Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)

The McCarthy report was released - or leaked - in part at Christmas and given to the previous Government. Concerning some of the proposals relating to Coillte and Bord na Móna there was a report in the Sunday Business Post of December 12 that one option in respect of State assets and liabilities considered at the time was a merger of Coillte and Bord na Móna. Does this Government's policy proceed from the McCarthy report?

My understanding is that at that time some of the labour negotiators met Professor McCarthy in regard to the sale of €2 billion of State assets. What will happen the land currently owned by Coillte? Many people were very concerned some months ago when it appeared that an international forestry group was interested in purchasing it - a group, incidentally, chaired by a previous Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern. People were concerned regarding the actual land under forest. What is to happen Coillte lands with regard to the merger?

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