Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I concur with Senator Cassells's comments. I was on that committee, along with Senators Byrne and Hoey. It is among the most important legislation we will see over the coming years. I am delighted and look forward to seeing the 33 recommendations we put forward implemented.

I also concur with the proposal from Senator Cassells on a discussion on forestry. It is a major issue and I welcome the recent acquisition by Glennon Brothers of Longford of Balcas, another large timber company, to turn it into one of the biggest timber-producing companies in the country. We need to address the issues in the forestry industry. It is having a knock-on effect on our house building.

I mentioned sports capital funding at the time of the budget. My understanding is allocations were to come out at some stage this month, but we had a small funding budget set aside for a large number of applications and there was only an extra €5 million in the budget for sports capital. I ask that we look again at that and the amount of funding available to make sure that all these sporting organisations, which have played such a pivotal part throughout Covid-19, get the funding they need to deliver their projects.

I will finish by welcoming back my party colleague, the Minister, Deputy McEntee. I happened to come in the gate of Leinster House today along with her. It is fantastic to see what she has done and highlights the need for permanent reform. I am glad there seems to be overtures in that direction. It is not before time.