asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will make a statement on the review of the procedures for the disposal of timber by his Department which was carried out recently.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disposal of Forest Timber.
5.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the interdepartmental committee who have been examining the tender-quota systems for disposal of State-owned timber.
The committee's report has been presented to the Government and I hope to be in a position to issue a public pronouncement in the matter shortly. When I say "shortly" I mean in a matter of days.
Will the Minister indicate what the general policy will be in this regard?
I should like to point out that it is not normal practice when a report has been presented to me to release details of it without first publishing it.
Was there an internal difference of opinion in the Department as to the way policy should proceed?
I should like to say that there is no minority report in the final document presented to me.
Did the Minister silence them?
The interdepartmental committee have been very slow, almost 12 months behind time, in reporting to the Minister. On more than one occasion the Minister said he was expecting the report shortly. Today the Minister has told us he expects to make a statement in a few days now that the Government have considered that report and I should like to know if we can expect it to be published in a few days.
The Deputy may.
What will be the value of the report in view of the fact that another committee have been established by the Minister? What will the relationship be between the committees? Will this report be sent to the other committee for further consideration and then sent to the Government?
That depends on how the review committee view the contents of the report to be published in the next few days.
It is a review about a review.