WATCH Michael Healy Rae in Laois to heap huge praise on 'massive' business

Kerry TD and new Government Minister Michael Healy Rae was full of praise for a Laois company CJ Sheeran when he visited the company's pallet factory in recent days.

The Minister of State for Forestry in the Department of Agriculture stopped off in Mountrath to see first-hand the production line at the award-winning business in Mountrath.

"People are talking about planting trees, well this is what becomes of trees," said the Minister in his MHR TV video posted on social media after the visit to the facility on March 5.

The independent TD said he had been shown by CJ Sheeran's 'the multitude of purposes' that timber can be used for.

"I have seen the companies both national and international, that avail of their services and buy their products. This is a massive business and this is an example of the good use that we can put our Irish timber to," he said.

Minister Healy Rae said he had learned about what can be achieved by people involved in the timber industry.

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He praised the Irish company that started from 'humble beginnings' and is now an 'extremely successful and sustainable business'.

He concluded that he was 'extremely grateful' to visit the company and thanked Forest Industries Ireland and CJ Sheeran for facilitating the visit.