Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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32. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he has had any input into the proposed sale of Coillte harvesting rights in view of the importance of forests to our national heritage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26282/13]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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37. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he and the National Parks and Wildlife Service have concerns regarding the impact on biodiversity in our forests should the proposed sale of Coillte harvesting rights go ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26283/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 37 together.

As the Deputy will appreciate, general responsibility for matters relating to publicly owned forestry rests with my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food. As Minister with responsibility for heritage matters, I have an interest in relation to afforestation and impacts on, inter alia, archaeological remains, biodiversity and landscape issues. I make my views known on proposals in which I have an interest in the appropriate way as a member of the Government.