Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the sale of Coillte's harvesting rights have been discussed with any potential buyers; if so who; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17633/13]

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, NewERA, Coillte, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department have worked to examine the financial and other implications of developing the potential of Coillte’s forest assets. Substantial work has been undertaken in the interim on the consideration of a number of issues associated with the proposed sale of the harvesting rights. The outcome of the overall analysis will be considered by the Government upon its conclusion.

In relation to the overall State Asset Disposal Programme, under the “Protocol on Meetings with Market Participants/Advisers, in the context of the Government's announcement on the disposal of State Assets ” as issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on 23 March 2012, a structured, formal process of engagement was put in place to meet with market participants/advisers. The objective of this process is to get a view on the level of potential interest in particular assets and hear of any concerns about specific issues, etc., in advance of the commencement of any formal disposal process. The procedure as envisaged under the protocol is important in terms of the various Government entities involved presenting a single consistent and coherent front to market participants and/or advisers in advance of the commencement of any formal disposal process. I understand that, following the receipt of formal requests under the procedure outlined in the protocol, meetings with potential market participants/advisers and concerned parties have taken place with the objective of receiving the perspectives of those requesting the meetings.