Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 19 November 2013

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Annual Report 2012: Discussion with Coillte

3:20 pm

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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I did not see in the presentation any reference to wood biomass as a potential growth business. I believe wood biomass will have a very key role as an asset for the State. It should be part of Coillte's renewable energy policy. Could the delegates outline their plans for wood biomass?

The presentation referred to renewable wind energy. It was stated that much of the energy is generated on land formerly owned by Coillte. That the land is formerly owned by Coillte is the crux of the issue. If land is being disposed of in this way, is the policy very short-sighted? When one disposes of land, one might get a windfall gain in the year of disposal but the potential for future growth to the benefit of the people is certainly diminished in the longer term. Is that company policy, and will it be company policy in the future?