I want to raise with the Taoiseach the imminent sale of a substantial parcel of land in the Wicklow Mountains, including the summit of Lugnaquilla, due to be auctioned off this Friday. The 1,527-acre holding represents a massive opportunity for the State to secure what is essentially a priceless piece of our natural heritage. I do not think land of such environmental, cultural and recreational value should be sold off to the highest bidder, including international interests. It is an opportunity for the State to purchase this land. The land borders the Wicklow Mountains National Park and offers a real opportunity to expand the park and take that land into public ownership. At a time when we have a biodiversity crisis and are under obligations under the EU nature restoration law, not investing in additional public lands such as this would put us under additional financial strain and potentially lead to penalties from the EU.

I thank the Deputy. The Taoiseach to reply.

I have written to the Minister in relation to the sale of this land on Friday. Will the Taoiseach examine this with a view to the State purchasing it?

The Taoiseach to respond now.

It has obviously gone on the open market. I will talk to the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, who has responsibility for the National Parks and Wildlife Service, but these are issues it pursues. We do not normally talk about land sales but obviously it is out there. I will see what its position on it is.