Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

That causes a bit of a quandary. Obviously the Government must take care of the sawmilling sector but if a rider is inserted that sawmills must be taken care of in the sale, this will affect the price. The price currently being mooted is not really very good value for the State and this will make it even worse.

However, something else will affect the price - if a sale is the intention - unless something is done about it. Why has Coillte management refused to order a Garda investigation into volume weight fraud, despite being requested to do so on numerous occasions? When it was initially reported to the Garda Síochána, the complainants were told that a report would be compiled and sent to superior officers, after which the Garda Síochána would respond to the complainants. This has not happened. In fact, this morning, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, informed me:

I have now received the Garda report. I am informed that the Garda authorities are not aware of any ongoing investigation into systematic weight volume fraud at Coillte Teo.

The reported fraud is apparently costing the State - or this semi-State company - tens of millions of euro. Given that it has been reported on numerous occasions, why is no action being taken?

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