Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on any meetings he has attended in relation to the proposed sale of Coillte's harvesting rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15003/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As a member of the Government, I have been involved in the Government meetings at which the State Asset Disposal programme, which includes the proposed sale of Coillte harvesting rights, have been considered. The outcome of one such meeting was the Government decision in February 2012 that consideration would be given to the sale of some assets of Coillte (excluding the sale of land). The exclusion of the sale of land from that process was to address the industry and public concerns expressed to me and my colleagues and concurred with the views of Government.

A more recent cabinet meeting resulted in the decision by the Government last summer that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be considered for sale. Further to this decision, officials of my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and NewERA, in conjunction with Coillte, are examining the financial and other implications of developing the potential of Coillte’s forest assets. This work encompasses 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. All of this work is being undertaken to inform the consideration of the Government on the sale of harvesting rights. I have also met with the officials involved in the consideration process and my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to this matter. No further decision on Coillte will be made until it is discussed at Cabinet.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends to continue with the consideration of the sale of the Coillte forest crop; the current state of play in relation to this proposal; the estimated money that will be raised by this sale; the details of any cost benefit analysis carried out on this proposed sale; his views on the recent Impact and Timber Council reports on this proposal; if he intends to make public the report of the National Treasury Management Agency before a decision is made in relation to this issue in order that the Oireachtas Committee for Agriculture, Food and Marine can have its input into the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14997/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, further to the Government’s decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be considered for sale, the National Treasury Management Agency, via its NewERA Unit, engaged with Coillte, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department to examine the financial and other implications of a potential transaction. 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. This whole process is a very complex one and it is not possible at this stage to pre-empt the outcome of the analysis or to give an estimate of the possible net proceeds. As I have said previously, the Government will proceed with caution in relation to this matter and no final decision has been taken, as yet.

As part of the process, a number of detailed financial, technical and other specialist reports were prepared for Coillte, by external specialist consultancy bodies, in full consultation with the Board of Coillte and its executive management. As Coillte is a commercial company trading in a competitive environment, matters relating to the performance of its various businesses and its portfolio are commercially sensitive, and it is therefore not appropriate, at this point in time, to make public the analysis conducted to date.

NewERA, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department are considering the report by Peter Bacon and Associates, commissioned by IMPACT, containing an “Assessment of the Consequences of the proposed Sale of Coillte’s Timber Harvesting Rights – 10 January 2013” and the report by EPS Consulting commissioned by the Irish Timber Council on “The impacts on the sawmill sector arising from the proposed sale of Coillte’s harvesting rights ”. Both of these reports provide useful background and insight to the concerns of the Coillte Unions and the Irish Timber Council, as expressed at the meetings with the respective groups, and contribute to the consideration process.

The analysis is ongoing as it is essential that any decision is based on the most accurate, comprehensive analysis possible. The outcome of the overall analysis will be considered by the Government upon its conclusion with no further decision to be taken on Coillte until it is discussed at Cabinet.