The sale of Coillte’s harvesting rights could see 2,500 jobs lost and all of Ireland’s commercial sawmills facing closure, those opposed to the plan have warned.

Richard Boyd Barrett of the People Before Profit party has said the proposed sale of the Coillte forestry harvesting rights would be "an unspeakable crime against the country".

The proposed sale of Coillte’s harvesting rights could lead to the closure of all ten of Ireland’s sawmills with the loss of 2,500 jobs, according to the Irish Timber Council (ITC).