2009-11-03 15:34:35 - Mr Tony Killeen TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with responsibility for forestry, today launched the Wood Marketing Federation ‘Woodspace’ exhibition at the ‘Plan Expo-Eco Build’ Show in the RDS in Dublin.

Launching the exhibition, Minister of State Killeen commented: “It is particularly appropriate that the Wood Marketing Federation promote their wood and wood products at the ‘Plan Expo – Eco Build’ Show as Plan Expo is a major annual event in the Irish construction calendar, is an established trade show and provides an ideal opportunity to show the versatility of wood.”

Minister

of State Killeen congratulated the Wood Marketing Federation on ‘Woodspace’, a custom-built exhibition space to promote wood construction and design, using timber from sustainably managed forests. It was commissioned by the Wood Marketing Federation and designed by the award-winning architect Ciaran O’Connor.

“Woodspace is a tribute to Irish craftsmanship and illustrates the vibrancy of the Irish Forestry and forest products sector”, added Minister of State Killeen. He stressed the significant role the forest industry, comprising growing, harvesting and processing of forest products, plays in the economy with output in 2008 of an estimated 1.89 billion euro, or just under 1pc of GDP, and also through the employment it sustains in rural Ireland.

Commending the work of the Wood Marketing Federation, and its member organisations, on their promotional work, the Minister of State stated: “The work of the Wood Marketing Federation is vital in ensuring that markets exist for the timber produced in our forests. Successful markets are essential to encourage continuity of new planting so that we can enjoy both the highly visible output from the forests, including wood products for construction, wood energy and recreational facilities as well as the less obvious benefits such as forestry’s contribution to climate change mitigation and the provision of recreational facilities.”

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
- High-resolution images of Tony Killeen, Fianna Fail TD for Clare, and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with special responsibility for Forestry, Fisheries and the Marine, may be downloaded from www.dunphyprimages.com
- For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy PR at media@dunphypr.com or 086-8534900

Mark Dunphy
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