Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the review of forestry legislation will include review of the principle object of Coillte Teo, which is defined in the Forestry Act 1988 as to carry on the business of forestry on a commercial basis, in view of the fact that this country has assured the United Nations and the European Commission that it is practising sustainable forestry which requires equal consideration of social and environmental factors. [18891/06]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if environmental non-governmental organisations will have direct representation nominated by themselves on the consultative group for the review of forestry legislation being undertaken by her forest service. [18892/06]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will make the full and complete minutes of the Consultative Group on Forestry Legislation publicly available on her Department's website. [18893/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 to 169, inclusive, together.

It is not my intention to include a review of Coillte in the present review of forestry legislation. Coillte Teoranta was established as a private company by virtue of the Forestry Act, 1988 and while it is expected to conduct its business in a cost effective and efficient manner, it is also obliged to have due regard to the environmental and amenity consequences of its operations.

Coillte has a critical role to play in the further development of Irish forestry and I am determined to see it play that role to best advantage. Coillte has achieved a high standard of international certification for its forest-management, in accordance with strict social, environmental and economic criteria. This certification is awarded by the international NGO, the Forest Stewardship Council. I think it is also important to note that Coillte operates an open-forest policy, encouraging and facilitating the use of its forests by locals and visitors alike, providing car-parks, routeways, signage and other facilities.

The Consultative Group on Forestry legislation has been set up to be as representative as possible of the very broad range of interests and organisations active in the sector. To that end, one representative each was sought from the industry, the local authorities, the forestry NGOs, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, research and development interests, and the IFA. The Group has almost finished its work and it is not proposed at this stage to add new members. However, written submissions were sought by public advertisement, with some 26 received, including a number from environmental NGOs. In addition, my Department has recently hosted a seminar, under independent chair, for those who had made written submissions to afford each an opportunity to present their case and to participate in wider debate on the changes required to forestry legislation. I believe that a very open and inclusive consultative process has been developed, which will greatly assist with the drafting of the new forestry Bill.

As regards the minutes of the Group, it would not be usual to make such minutes available while discussions are actually continuing, and it was an explicit decision of the Group itself to proceed on that basis. It would be my intention, however, to make these minutes available in due course and in the normal manner. In the meantime, the Group publishes a bulletin after each of its meetings on a dedicated web-page hosted by my Department. These bulletins summarise the discussion, identifying the key points under debate, and the progress of agreement reached. These bulletins provide an accurate record of each meeting and one which is freely available to anybody interested in the legislative review.