Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the upcoming meetings he is scheduled to attend in relation to the proposed sale of Coillte's harvesting rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15004/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Further to the Government decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be considered for sale, Coillte Board and management have engaged with NewERA, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department to examine the financial and other implications of developing the potential of Coillte’s forest assets. Substantial work has been undertaken to date on the identification of the forestry assets involved, the determination of their value and the consideration of a number of issues associated with the proposed sale of the harvesting rights.

A Steering Group comprising of representatives from NewERA, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department was formed to monitor the analysis process. This Group has met regularly and has also formally met with Coillte, and representatives of the Coillte Trade Unions and the Irish Timber Council. I am meeting regularly with the officials in my Department involved in the consideration process. The outcome of the overall analysis will be considered by the Government upon its conclusion and no decision has been taken as yet.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline his areas of responsibility in relation to Coillte and the possible sale of its harvesting rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15005/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Coillte is a commercial state owned enterprise established in 1989 in accordance with the Forestry Act 1988. The shares are held by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and myself. As the Minister with responsibility for forestry, there are a number of powers assigned to me under the Forestry Act 1988. I also respond to Parliamentary Questions on policy matters relating to Coillte. As a State owned body, Coillte is also subject to the Department of Finance ‘Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies ’ under which it is obliged to provide information and confirmation to both Ministers in relation to the governance and activities of the company. As the company is engaged in forestry activities such as harvesting, it is also subject to the provisions of the Forestry Act 1946, the operation of which falls within the remit of my Department.

In relation to the possible sale of its harvesting rights, as a member of the Government, I have been involved in the decision making in relation to the State Asset Disposal programme, of which the proposed sale of Coillte harvesting rights is one element. Further to the Government decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be considered for sale, my Department has been involved in the consideration process in conjunction with NewERA and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the purpose of which is to identify the forestry assets involved, determine their value and consider the range of issues associated with a possible sale of the harvesting rights. Coillte has been integral to this process through the provision of data and relevant background information.

I am briefed by my officials on an ongoing basis as to the progress of the analysis. The outcome of the overall analysis will be considered by the Government upon its conclusion and no decision has been taken as yet.