Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Senator Buttimer on his appointment as Cathaoirleach and wish the new Leader, Senator Chambers, the best of luck for the coming term.

I will raise the issue of the evolving relationship and partnership between Coillte and an English investment fund, Gresham House, their formation of the Irish strategic forestry fund and the role that is being played in this process by the Irish Strategic Investment Fund, ISIF. There is a lot of concern among the farming community, landowners, rural dwellers and the public about where this is going and what its consequences will be. The €1.3 billion investment in the forestry programme before Christmas was welcomed across the House. However, that was in the belief at the time that this money would be used to incentivise farmers to develop forestry on a smaller scale and be more sporadically distributed throughout the country. Now we believe it will be investor driven and that a large proportion of the €1.3 billion will go to investors as opposed to landowners and the farming community. Investor-driven afforestation will be larger and more concentrated in specific areas. Many concerned citizens and public representatives have contacted me about this. There are many more questions than answers. I ask the Leader, and indeed plead with her, to invite the relevant Minister to the House for a debate as soon as possible. This is an evolving issue which we must have the opportunity to discuss with the Minister at his earliest convenience.