Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I read yesterday that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, had spoken about the potential privatisation of Coillte. In the context of the forthcoming forestry Bill, I have extreme concerns about what is being considered. At the moment, Coillte has a land bank of just less than half a million hectares, which is significant not just financially but also in terms of its recreational and amenity potential. Coillte owns 150 recreation sites and ten forest parks and has 1,100 employees. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, seems to have indicated the NTMA is currently evaluating this.

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