James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 60: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he or officials in his Department have had any discussions with Coillte and or Bord na Mona about a possible merger or strategic alliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16998/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Neither I nor officials of my Department have made any proposal to Coillte or Bord na Móna regarding a possible merger or strategic alliance between the two organizations. A full review of state forestry policy, including the role, functions and operations of Coillte, is currently being undertaken in line with the commitment in the renewed Programme for Government. The terms of reference of the Group reviewing Coillte are: "To make proposals for the development of Coillte in the context of national and EU policies on forestry, commercial state enterprises, the national economy, energy, climate change, the environment, tourism and recreation. The review will address the role of Coillte and its functions and operations including:

Business Areas – forest management from afforestation through to log production, panel production, land use and renewable energy;

Public Goods – climate change mitigation, recreation and protection of the environment, biodiversity, landscape, water resources and heritage;

Corporate Development – funding, dividend policy, asset disposal, privatisation, wider share ownership, regulatory framework and relationships with stakeholders and organisations both public and private.".