Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Mar 2003

Vol. 562 No. 4

Written Answers - Bord na Móna.

Willie Penrose

Question:

149 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans for the future of Bord na Móna; if he has received a response from the board of Bord na Móna to his request for its views on the future of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6272/03]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern)

I refer the Deputy to the programme for Government, agreed in June 2002, which states that the Government "will approach the issue of the appropriate form of ownership or structure for state companies on a case-by-case basis" and "will support the maximum commercial freedom of semi-state companies, subject to the fulfilment of national strategic and balanced regional policy objectives".

As stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 151 on 29 January last, I wrote to the chairman of Bord na Móna in July 2002 seeking the views of the board in relation to the company's future strategy plans. I was not expecting a reply to my request until the new chairman, new board members and new worker directors had time to settle in. However, I understand that the board and management have made good progress in developing a strategy for the future and I look forward to receiving their views in due course.