Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I acknowledge that the Deputy has a point that desires being entertained because we must continue to build up our renewable capacity. We cannot have windmills at every crossroads in the country. It is desirable that wind farms ought to be clustered. The availability of land is most apparent in the case of some State companies, Coillte and Bord na Móna in particular, and we must have regard to that in any decision that is implemented in respect of the agreement with the troika.

I have had some discussions on the matter with my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney. In any event, I hope it is understood that the State does not propose to sell Coillte. As the proposal currently stands the intention is to examine the sale of the harvesting of the timber but not to sell the land. Deputy Mulherin has made an important point in terms of our capacity to carve out provision for the kind of development to which she referred. I confirm that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, and I are currently having discussions on the matter.

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