Liz McManus
Ceist:154 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans for the future of Bord na Móna; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22053/03]
Written Answers. - Bord na Móna Strategy Document.
Tom Hayes
Ceist:343 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the contact he has had with Bord na Móna over the past nine months; his views on the future of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22144/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 343 together.
As I stated in my replies to questions on the future of Bord na Móna in April and June this year, planning for the future of Bord na Móna is a matter for the company in the first instance. In that regard, I refer the Deputies 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".
The chairman of Bord na Móna responded in March to my letter regarding the company's future and in June, Bord na Móna formally presented to me its group strategy document and five year corporate plan, 2003-08. The documents outline the company's proposals to deal with increasing commercial and environmental pressures, and its plans to diversify away from peat-based products into new sectors. My Department and the Department of Finance are assessing the issues raised.
As is the norm in my Department's dealings with our state bodies, there is regular ongoing contact between officials of my Department and Bord na Móna. I have had two meetings with the chairman of Bord na Móna since the start of this year, and the Secretary General of the Department has also met the chairman on a number of occasions.