Results 4,121-4,140 of 10,862 for speaker:Matt Carthy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: I am coming to that in a minute but let me state the difficulty I have about the commercial activity. We have spoken before and the witnesses will be aware I am passionate about Ireland reaching its afforestation targets. As I have said a million times, it needs to be good for communities, good for the economy and good for the environment. In every single debate we have had, I have pointed...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: Coillte has mentioned it is not trying to supplant private contractors or smaller domestic foresters. I remember when this State had a good housing policy, when I was on the council first and when local authorities bought up houses quite regularly. One policy my local council had, for example, was if it was planning to bid on a house but found out that a local first-time buyer was also...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: I have asked a specific question. When the fund or joint venture is operational and is looking at land, if it transpires that another forester is planning and has an eye to the same land and with a view to what already has been said about the fears of land price acceleration, will Coillte ensure the joint venture is instructed to step back in such instances?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: But in principle?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: I know the witnesses have indicated they cannot or will not deal with the specifics of what potential companies with which Coillte is engaging but we can take Gresham House as an example of the type of companies that are engaged in this type of activity. The witnesses may be aware of some very serious concerns within Scotland where a member of the Scottish Parliament, when describing a joint...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: When Ms Hurley says "in due course", I presume she means after contracts have been signed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: Let me ask, when the formal announcement is made, will it be a fait accompli? It will be just for the information of the public.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: I am sorry but it is a fairly simple question. Will Coillte be announcing the proposed arrangement or the finalised arrangement?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: Before that does Coillte consider that it needs the approval of their shareholders, as they describe the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: Thus, the answer is "No".

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: Thus, the answer is "No".

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: I am asking whether those consents will include approval from the Department. The answer I have been given by Ms Hurley is that such consent is not required, as far as Coillte is concerned.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: Let me use a broad construct. Does Coillte consider it appropriate to get the approval of the Department for the construct in which it plans to engage with a third party beforehand?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: My next question should have been put five minutes ago-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: Will Coillte, considering the Department is its sole shareholder, seek its approval for such a construct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: I know that. Will Coillte ask for its approval?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: It is being used by Ms Hurley's colleague.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: I am taking it that is also a "No". With regard to oversight, I asked whether Coillte was looking at international evaluation. Would Coillte look at the financial history of those involved in a fund before it enters into an agreement with them? Would it ensure there was nothing untoward or that no constituent party of any fund had been found in breach of the Central Bank or Garda fraud,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: In one famous instance that may have been mentioned, a British-based fund's Irish operations occurred on the basis of a purchase of an asset management company in Ireland and the founder of which was then appointed as managing director of Irish operations. The Central Bank fined those Irish operators €443,000 last year, which is not ancient history, because they had failed to submit a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: That does not sound definite either. I wish to move on. I understand that is a joint venture.