asked the Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry the reason timber is being exported via Caherciveen, County Kerry, and not processed here in Ireland.

According to the information available to me the firm who are exporting pulpwood size timber from Caherciveen regard it as more commercially attractive to do so than to sell it at prevailing market prices to alternative domestic outlets. There are no restrictions on such exports to other member states of the European Community.