David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 29: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which Coillte is responsible to him; the interaction he has had with Coillte since taking office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38959/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988. In accordance with that Act, my consent is required by the company for certain actions. For some of those actions, the approval of the Minister for Finance, or now, following the enactment of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011, the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, is also required. Coillte, as a state body, is also subject to the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. This Code, which was updated in 2009, sets out the governance framework agreed by the Government for the internal management, and the internal and external reporting relationships, of commercial and non-commercial state bodies. The Code specifies inter alia the reports that the Chairperson and the Company must provide to me, and my Department, on a range of issues.

In relation to my interaction with Coillte since taking office, I have met with the Chairman, the Chief Executive and other representatives of the company on a number of occasions since March and there is ongoing contact and correspondence between officials in my Department and Coillte as and when required.