Grant Payments.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2004

Wednesday, 17 November 2004

Questions (328, 329)

Trevor Sargent

Question:

368 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food further to Parliamentary Question No. 291 of 9 December 2003 regarding the matter of recouping from Coillte Teoranta forestry premium grants awarded to it but subsequently excluded from community financing under the guarantee section of the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund, and confirmed by a European Court decision (details supplied), if she has received the legal advice referred to by her predecessor; and if she has consequently made a decision regarding seeking the return of these funds from Coillte Teoranta. [29032/04]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The State has repaid the forestry premium grants in question to the EU. On the question of whether or not these moneys should now be recouped in turn from Coillte Teoranta, I can confirm that the advice of the Office of the Attorney General has been received but no decision has been taken in the matter. The question is being reviewed in the context of the future strategy for Coillte.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

369 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the legal costs incurred by the State in the unsuccessful application for annulment of Commission Decision 2000/449/EC of 5 July 2000 excluding from community financing forestry premium grants to Coillte Teoranta. [29033/04]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The costs of senior and junior counsel borne by the Chief State Solicitor's Office in the case amounted to some €30,000.