Fiach MacConghail (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have two questions for the Leader. On Sunday I was proud to be one of the sponsors of Walk in the Woodlands at Avondale House, the former home of Charles Stewart Parnell. The event was organised to draw attention and opposition to the sale of the harvesting rights of Coillte. I had to leave a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine to debate the matter, which coincided with business in the Seanad this morning. I note that the Ministers for Public Expenditure and Reform and Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputies Howlin and Rabbitte, have stated that the sale might not go ahead. I would like to hear the official view of the Government on this disgraceful proposal as agreed with the troika. I raised the matter here on 13 March. I understand the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, will attend next Thursday. He is a busy man and I know this is another extraordinary issue for him. We need to keep the forests and our right to access our national heritage in public ownership.