Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

I thought we had got a new recruit from an unlikely quarter, a Cheann Comhairle.

The sale of any key infrastructure to transnational corporations on foot of the diktats of the troika to bail out bondholders and bankers is shameful. However, I will concentrate on Coillte and the proposed sale of forestry harvesting rights.

The Minister stated he has got the report. Will he share with us what the report states? Does he acknowledge that leaks, perhaps from the Government or his Department, are now pointing to the fact that the sale of Coillte's harvesting rights, which would be immoral, would not make the economic sense that may have been envisaged? Does he acknowledge there is deep-seated opposition among ordinary people to the sale? It would create great uncertainty among downstream operators in the wood industry. A cost to the State of perhaps €1.3 billion, as estimated by the IMPACT trade union study, would arise. Access to recreational and outdoor facilities could be jeopardised. For those reasons, will the Minister agree that the sale of the harvesting rights should not proceed? Will he share with us what he proposes to do? His colleagues in the Labour Party have indicated the sale should not go ahead, and they feel the pressure. The Minister should let us know now; he should not hold off for another week or two.

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