Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2023
787. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the person who signed the shareholder letter of expectation to Coillte on 2 June 2022 on behalf of the State; the details of the letter; if the letter will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4587/23]
View answerThe Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies requires that Government Departments should ensure that they have written oversight agreements with State bodies under their aegis which clearly define the terms of the State body’s relationship with the relevant Minister/parent Department.
For commercial State bodies the oversight agreement between the relevant Minister/parent Department and the State body is the Shareholder Expectation Letter.
A Shareholder letter of Expectation issued from Minister Hackett to Coillte on 2nd June 2022, as the powers and duties conferred on the Minister by the Forestry Act 1988 have been delegated to Minister of State Hackett under S.I. 40 of 2021. The Shareholder Letter was co-signed by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath.
I am looking at the potential release of the letter subject to the standard issues around commercial sensitivities. I will review this matter together with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and inform the Deputy and other interested parties of our decision in due course.
