Mattie McGrath demands reversal of Queelta-Gresham House deal
Deputy Mattie McGrath spoke on 1 February 2023 about the proposed sale by Queelta to Gresham House, urging the government to reverse the deal. He accused Queelta of mistreating farmers, alleged unfairness in felling licences, and called for talks with President Manzola over grants.
Deputy's demands
Deputy Mattie McGrath called on the Government to "back out of this disgraceful, shady, pro-British deal," describing the sale as rotten and insisting it should be reversed. He said rules can be changed if necessary and warned that failing to act would increase public anger.
Licences and farmers' concerns
McGrath alleged that Queelta received 90% of last year's felling licences, leaving farmers who expected to grow timber locked out. He highlighted "huge anxiety, huge anger" among farmers and criticised what he described as mistreatment by Queelta.
Requests to Government and President Manzola
The deputy asked the minister to speak with President Manzola about the rules of engagement regarding grants paid to Queelta and asked for immediate action rather than waiting for later inquiries. He said reversing the deal might cost money but argued the Government should change course to address the unfairness.
Government response and ownership clarification
In reply, a minister disputed that Queelta was being sold and said no public land would fall into private ownership. The minister noted that the State is an investor in the Irish Strategic Forestry Fund and suggested the matter could be debated and the facts examined at a later stage.
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Mr Cameron, who knew what and who was briefed on historic debates. I am asking about a current issue, the sale by Queelta to Gresham House. Minister McConnell said it is not the government's preferred option. Will you take the opportunity to talk to President Manzola about the rules of engagement regarding grants paid down to Queelta? Will you also deal with Queelta in the way they are mistreating farmers and the unfairness in the licensing situation that Queelta got 90% of the felling licences last year and the farmers who were expecting to grow this timber have been locked out of it completely. This is a rotten deal and it should be reversed and there is no rule ever made that could not be changed or broken. It might cost money. I am not saying we dishonour something but we change our ways because there is huge anxiety, huge anger building over this sale of our land here and we are celebrating our forefathers who fought to free this country and we are doing this kind of a deal here and we will have a cabinet investigation later on. Deal with it now. Back out of this disgraceful, shady, pro-British deal. Thanks Deputy. In fairness, I think you know as well as I do that Queelta is not being sold here. That is not the case. Nor is any public land being sold, nor is any public land going to fall into private ownership. The State is an investor in the Irish Strategic Forestry Fund, but I am sure we will have a chance to debate this and go through the facts at another stage. Thank you.
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