I would like to bring your attention to the increasing amount of commentary relating to the potential sale of Coillte. Whatever your political views, the fact is that Coillte own and manage around 7% of this country on our, the citizens behalf. Coillte's progressive Open Forest Policy means that you & I have ready access to these lands, whether for recreation within or for use as access to the higher hills. There is a suggestion abroad that the Irish state should sell off all or part of this asset to private interests. In my personal view, this could have a potentially disastrous effect for public access to our countryside, particularly in forests close to centres of population which presumably would hold the greatest interest for private speculators. I would ask you to inform yourself of the situation and if appropriate, write to the relevant government departments.