Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I understand and appreciate everyone's views and genuine concerns. I have never engaged in a campaign of deprecation or adversely commented on anybody's sincerely held views and opinions. I acknowledge that there are genuine concerns about privatisation. Coming from the background that I do, I am stridently opposed to any attempt to privatise this utility, in particular. Some people may have forgotten, but I played a significant role in ensuring that Coillte remained in public ownership. Everybody has conveniently forgotten about that, but we fought a very strong campaign. It was part of the troika's programme and we succeeded in ensuring it did not happen.

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