Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

Nine thousand years ago, before the first settlers came to Ireland, the whole island was practically covered in forests. One hundred and ten years ago, that had been reduced to about 1%. Gradually over the past period it has grown to about 10%, which is well below what it should be for any sustainable and desirable afforestation policy. It is laughable to listen to Labour Deputies say that it does not really matter whether something is in State hands and that whether it is a semi-State or a communistic facility does not make any difference to job creation. Has this person heard of Telecom Éireann, the decimation of jobs which took place in that enterprise as private concerns sold and resold the asset, sweated it of any value and depleted its workforce? It is no accident that the forestry which has developed in Ireland has taken place under planned investment and under State investment. That is a sustainable way of going forward. To jeopardise that to commercial capitalist interests is something which will undermine the well-being of our forestry in the future.

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