Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 March 2013
134. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the forest service has produced any reports on its remit in overseeing Coillte; if so, if he will provide these reports; if not, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15006/13]
View answerCoillte Teoranta was established in accordance with the Forestry Act 1988, under which a number of powers in relation to the oversight of the company are assigned to me as the Minister with responsibility for forestry. Coillte is also subject to the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. This Code, which was revised and updated in 2009, sets out the governance framework agreed by the Government for the internal management, and the internal and external reporting relations of State bodies. The Forestry Division of my Department monitors the company’s compliance with those requirements. The oversight of commercial state bodies has been enhanced by the establishment of NewERA as corporate governance activities currently carried out by Departments are carried out by NewERA, reporting to the relevant Minister. The necessary communication channels and agreement of the respective roles of NewERA and the relevant line Division in my Department have been put in place.
No reports have been produced in relation to the oversight of Coillte. The company, as a commercial company, issues an annual report and accounts each year which is laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. I respond to parliamentary questions on policy matters relating to Coillte while the company also attends the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine regularly to discuss the company’s performance and activities with members of the Oireachtas.
