Written answers

Thursday, 9 May 2013

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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101. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the possible legal difficulties or obstacles to the sale of the harvesting rights of Coillte; in particular, if such a sale might breach articles in the Aarhus Convention in relation to public participation and environmental issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21992/13]

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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As might be expected, a variety of complex issues, legal or otherwise, fall to be considered in the context of the proposed sale of harvesting rights to Coillte forests as announced under the State assets disposal programme. The Government has established a Steering Group comprising the relevant Departments and NewERA to examine these issues and to report back to Ministers on the matter. NewERA, on behalf of the Steering Group, has worked closely with Coillte to analyse the various financial, policy and technical issues arising, which include inter alia the issue of public access to the forests, replanting obligations to ensure the continued existence of our forests, harvesting policy, the issue of supply of timber to the local saw mills, etc., as well as the implications for Coillte itself. A number of specialist advisers have been engaged by Coillte to further inform this process. The implications of the provisions of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters for the form and timing of an eventual harvesting rights transaction are also among the matters that are being explored.

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