Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I assure the Deputy that I do take interest in the detail of what is occurring in Coillte. If we find valuable natural resources underground, we must obviously examine how best we can use them. I hope the Deputy and others will support us in this regard. Unfortunately, this has not been the case in that the Deputy opposed vehemently the bringing ashore of natural resources just off the coast his constituency, which resources would have been for the betterment of the State.

Coillte needs to use the entire land-bank as best it can, be it for forestry, wind power, public amenities or tourism. It is the job of Coillte as a commercial semi-State body not only to obtain a commercial return for its shareholders but also to serve the public good in all its activities. In that context, it is fair that we consider potential assets that may be under the land-bank, which, as the Deputy stated, represents 7% of the land mass of Ireland.

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