Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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466. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is Coillte policy to test groundwater on and near its lands regularly in order to determine if unsafe levels of the pesticides used by Coillte are contained in same; and if so, the regularity with which such tests are carried out. [47051/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Coillte was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as its policy in relation to the usage of pesticides, are the responsibility of the company.

I have referred the Deputy’s question to Coillte and have requested that a response issue to you within 10 days.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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467. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 769 of 6 November 2018, if Coillte is a commercial semi-State company rather than a private commercial company and if the chairman and board of Coillte are ultimately answerable to him. [47082/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Coillte was formed and registered, pursuant to Section 9 of the Forestry Act 1988, as a private company under the Companies Acts. It has been re-registered, as required under the Companies Act 2014, as a Designated Activity Company (limited by shares), with the name of the company now ‘Coillte Cuideachta Ghníomhaíochta Ainmnithe’. The shareholders are the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and, as I have statutory responsibility for certain consent functions under the Forestry Act 1988, it may be defined as a State Body. One of Coillte’s principal objectives, under the Forestry Act 1988, is to carry on the business of forestry and related activities on a commercial basis and it is therefore appropriate, in view of the legislative provisions, to refer to Coillte as a commercial semi-state company. In this regard, it operates independently from my Department, though I have a number of statutory functions.

The Chairperson and other directors of the Board of Coillte are appointed by me with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

Coillte is required, under Section 31 of the Forestry Act 1988, to make a report to me of its activities each year, copies of which are then laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. The company shall, if so required, furnish to me any additional information in respect of that report or in relation to the policy and operations of the company other than day-to-day operations. As a shareholder, I am also represented at the company’s Annual General Meeting.

Coillte is required to confirm to me that it complies with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies in their governance practices and procedures. The Governance Framework outlined in the Code states that the Chairperson and Board are ultimately responsible to me for the operation and proper functioning of the State Body. It should be clarified that this refers to its operations in line with overall Government policy and not day to day operational matters.

In terms of regulation of its forestry activities, the company is subject to the provisions of the Forestry Act 2014, in the same way as any landowner in the State.