Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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I appreciate the Chair letting me contribute. I strongly oppose this land grab, which is exactly what it is. I am very concerned about this and I am concerned about the Minister's words. I have sat here through this entire meeting and the statements this evening. The Minister is saying it is not the preferred deal, as did the Taoiseach. They are sharing the same script, obviously. If the Minister feels it is not the preferred deal and that is the Government's view, why is he not expressing his concerns to Coillte and instructing it? Coillte is a semi-State body and Deputy McConalogue is the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. What seems to have happened is that the coin has flipped and Coillte is instructing the Minister, clearly. This script I am reading, which the Minister presented to us, is like a press release from Coillte, Gresham House or both. It is not from a Minister showing leadership, and the Minister's job is to show leadership. This deal is flawed and everybody can see that, including those across the Minister's own party who have said it. The Opposition says it and not just us. There is consensus here. Would the Minister not issue an instruction to Coillte? Has he gone in blindly and approved this without knowing what the pitfalls were or that there are real concerns about young farmers being outbid or locked out of access to land?

Those are real issues. It does not cut it to say it is not an ideal deal. Deputy McConalogue is the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Surely his job is to direct semi-State bodies such as Coillte or is he simply caving in and giving Coillte its way? That is the impression I am getting.

I have been sitting here since 5.30 p.m. It is concerning. The Minister has spoken about leadership, which is important, but it requires listening to all views whether a person agrees with them or not. Has the Minister met farming organisations that have serious concerns? Has he met Macra na Feirme and all the different organisations? I am disappointed he has not met some of the forestry organisations such as the Social, Economic Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland, SEEFA. I ask him to reconsider that immediately. Its members have legitimate concerns. I know some of the relevant people. They are good people from my constituency. They have been involved in forestry for a long time and have more expertise on this issue than the Minister or me. I ask the Minister to meet them. It concerns to me that he is talking about leadership and trotting out lines. I am worried. Did the Minister express any concern to Coillte about this? It is a big issue.

I will ask the Minister about carbon credits. A foreign entity is coming in and a land grab is taking place. At the moment it is 3.5% of the 100,000 ha of forest. That is at the moment. However, no one is naive enough to think it will stop at that, unless the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine stops it. That is the reality. Where is this whole thing going? Has the Minister expressed any disapproval? Will he issue an instruction to a semi-State body? That is what he should do. Where do carbon credits leave the agriculture sector? Will this foreign entity that is entitled to farm entitlements also avail of carbon credits to the detriment of our sector? Our sector is already being unfairly punished. I said that I did not agree with the carbon emissions. I was here on the day we had that long debate.

The Minister must also bear in mind that €2.1 billion of taxpayers' money is being used to assist a foreign entity. He must show leadership on this. It is crazy stuff. I read an article in the Irish Independent this week that stated Coillte must not be not fit for purpose if it is calling in a foreign entity for assistance. This will be a massive scandal that will come back to bite the Minister if he does not deal with it and answer honestly members' questions members. To return to my main question, did the Minister express any concerns to Coillte or did he just sign a form to approve the deal?