Yesterday the Taoiseach told the House that the sale of Coillte's harvesting rights was being considered and in the event of it going ahead, legislation would be required. However, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, said the sale of Coillte's harvesting rights was unlikely because of protests and opposition, in which case no legislation could be expected. I ask the Taoiseach to clarify these competing messages from the Government. Can we expect legislation relating to the disposal of the harvesting rights of our public forests or not? I ask the Taoiseach to give a straight answer to that.

Maybe the Deputy cannot see the wood from the trees.

The Taoiseach cannot either.

We are trying to figure out whether the Government will separate the wood from the trees.

The Deputy is trying to imply if he keeps protesting, he might stop the sale of everything. I will clarify it for the Deputy. The Government agreed a list of potential sales of State assets. Clearly the Government would need to evaluate the value and opportunity that might present itself for any of these assets, including the sale of the timber on Coillte grounds.

A great deal of work has been done by NewERA on evaluating these opportunities. It remains the position of the Government that it must consider from this menu of potential sale of State assets which would be sold, at what time, the most appropriate fashion in which to do so and how the moneys would be used for investment and job creation. This is the position. When the Government makes its formal decisions on this, the House will be informed, as will everybody else.

When?

It will be considered in the time ahead.