asked the Minister for Energy the purpose of the visit by the Minister of State at his Department to the USA; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
50.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Ministerial Trip Abroad.
26.
asked the Minister for Energy the purpose of the visit by the Minister of State at his Department to the USA; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 50 together.
Initiatives undertaken by the Government since assuming office have led to an unprecedented growth of forestry activities such as — State forest planting up from 7,000 hectares in 1986 to 10,000 in 1988; — Private forest planting up from 2,600 hectares in 1986 to 5,000 in 1988; — State forest production up from 1.26m. cubic metres in 1986 to 1.45 million in 1988; — Revenue from timber sales increased from £16.4m in 1986 to £21.5 million in 1988; — Increased EC funding for State and Private Forestry.
The Government are determined to avail of every opportunity to keep up this momentum. The Minister's visit was aimed at securing a higher level of investment in private forestry and in developing new industrial investments and greater added value in downstream processing industries.
Due to the sudden tragic death of Assistant Secretary, Tom Rea, who was accompanying the Minister of State, the Minister's programme has had to be abandoned.
Might I first share with the Minister in sympathising with the relatives of Tom Rea who died in the course of his duties?
On this question, is it the case that only a certain limited number of companies were involved in this promotional trip? Will he extend the same facilities of State promotion to the other companies who may be interested in a similar facility?
A number of companies were involved in the programme, for example, Woodland Investments, the O'Dwyer Forestry Foundation Project and Greenbelt Limited. The Minister was going to visit the Medite plant in Oregon. A very comprehensive programme of work was laid out for him. Unfortunately, the tragic death of Assistant Secretary Tom Rea meant that the trip had to be abandoned and the Minister of State is home.