Dáil debates

Tuesday, 15 September 2020

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions

Coillte Teoranta

8:25 pm

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

119. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an independent review and sustainability audit will be commissioned of forest business and other activities of Coillte, as recommended in the 2019 report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24007/20]

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My question relates to one of the recommendations in the report by the Joint Committee on Climate Action, namely, that an independent review be carried out of Coillte's activities. Is it the intention of the Government to carry out that independent review? If so, when will it be commissioned?

Senator Pippa Hackett:

The Joint Committee on Climate Action launched its final, cross-party report, entitled Climate Change: A Cross-Party Consensus for Action on 16 April 2019. Its implementation was a matter for the previous Government, which adopted some of the measures in its own climate action plan for 2019. This Government is proposing to revisit that plan and publish its own climate Bill this autumn. The joint committee's report acknowledged that it "was not in a position to examine afforestation in any level of adequate detail". It did, however, set out a number of recommendations for the forestry sector to be considered in the design of the new national forestry programme for the period 2021 to 2027.

The committee also recommended that the climate action council, which is currently known as the Climate Change Advisory Council, conduct a comprehensive review of national forestry in respect of climate change mitigation and adaptation and feed its findings into the new national forestry programme. It was in this context that the committee suggested that the Government should also commission an independent review and sustainability audit of Coillte's forest business and other activities in 2019, in conjunction with a review of the Forestry Act 1988 to ensure that policy is consistent with the objectives of environmental, social and economic sustainability in this sector.

As the Deputy knows, Coillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988.  The Act provides, inter alia, that a principal objective of the company is to carry out the business of forestry and related activities on a commercial basis and in accordance with effectual silvicultural practices.  It is self-financing and does not receive funding from the Exchequer. As a State-owned enterprise, it is also subject to the code of practice for the governance of State bodies 2016. Coillte currently operates forestry, land management, panel products and renewable energy businesses. The company manages an estate of 440,000 ha, of which just under 400,000 ha are forested.

I am also preparing the way for the design of a new national forestry strategy and national forestry programme, which I look forward to starting very soon.

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I am disappointed with her response because it is the same response to which I have been listening for four years, having heard previous responses from civil servants. The Joint Committee on Climate Action made a very specific recommendation based on very specific reasons. Since then, climate change and biodiversity emergencies have been declared. Coillte owns over 50% of the forested land in Ireland so there are serious consequences here. The committee recommended a review. The simple question is whether the Government intends to carry out the review - yes or no? If the answer is "Yes", when will it happen?

Senator Pippa Hackett:

My commitment is to develop a new forestry programme. In that process I would like to engage with stakeholders and politicians all across the board to design the programme. If part of that process involves looking at the remit of Coillte, I would certainly welcome that. I am looking forward to embarking on that programme. There is an ambitious forestry programme outlined in the programme for Government, which I think the Deputy would accept. Once we embark on it we will have a very robust forestry programme that will deal with all of those issues, including climate action, the environmental issues and embracing communities in its design. That is something I am committed to doing.

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State's commitment, and that of the Government, but I think she is missing the urgency of this situation. We declared a climate emergency over a year ago. We have a biodiversity crisis and we have a serious problem with the way we proceeded with planting trees in Ireland, particularly Sitka spruce, although I am no expert. I know from sitting on the Committee of Public Accounts for five years the problems that emerged when the reports came before us. I am not laying blame; I am just asking that we learn and go forward. We do not have time for what the Minister of State is proposing. A specific recommendation was made to carry out an independent review and the Minister of State now tells me there is a new national forestry programme. I know that. It was on every Government agenda, including that of the previous Government. I am asking the Minister of State to recognise the problems that exist as a result of successive Governments following a policy of planting the wrong trees, particularly in view of the challenges we are facing.

Senator Pippa Hackett:

I fully acknowledge the difficulties and problems in the forestry sector. I also acknowledge that we have legacy problems from poor decisions made over the past number of decades. That is something this Government is acknowledging and is appreciative of, and it is something we want to fix and improve upon. That is why we achieved the ambitious forestry commitments in the programme for Government, which are more ambitious than those of any previous programme. We have been in government for the past two and a half months, if that, and we have already implemented some interesting and progressive moves within forestry in terms of woodland creation. We have looked at the climate issue. We are embracing that in how we deal with our forestry and I have given a commitment that I want to see it improved. I want to see a better forestry model for Ireland. It is certainly something I want to be part of and drive on and I would appreciate any inputs from people in this House and beyond.

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have two more minutes.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Our time has expired.

Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website.

The Dáil adjourned at 11.10 p.m. until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 16 September 2020.