Farmers call for review of forestry partnership

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue and minister of state Pippa Hackett are being invited to appear before the Oireachtas agriculture committee over the forestry plan. Picture: Chris Bellew /Fennell Photography

TDs and farming organisations have called for a rethink of Coillte's forestry partnership with a UK investment fund.

Government sources say the partnership is a "done deal", despite Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue being set to meet the semi-state body on Thursday, and fears have been expressed by groups including the IFA that the new fund could price farmers out of the land market.