Agriculture Committee to discuss forestry potential with Coillte representatives

1 October 2012

David Gunning, Chief Executive and Gerry Egan, Group Director, Strategy and Corporate Affairs, will address the Committee. Coillte is responsible for the management of some 442,000 hectares of State forestry and for 90 percent of the supply of logs to the Irish timber industry. It has two subsidiaries operating in the panel board processing sector and has plans to develop biomass and wind energy.

Chairman of the Committee Andrew Doyle TD says: “The future development of Ireland’s forestry industry is a key issue for examination during our current Committee work programme.  The engagement with Coillte senior managers tomorrow provides our Committee with an opportunity to explore the economic, social and environmental benefits that Ireland derives from forestry. Coillte’s 2011 Annual Report and the future direction of the forestry industry will form the basis for the discussions.

\"The total national forest estate comprises about one tenth of land area of the country and employs about 16,000 people, in predominantly rural communities. Earlier in the year, the Committee met with Minister of State with responsibility for forestry Shane McEntee TD, who said that investment in forestry was a ‘safe bet’ in turbulent economic times. The Committee will also wish to touch on the social and environmental functions of a sustainable forestry industry, which are sometimes elusive to quantify.

“Coillte has also developed a strategy to become Ireland’s leading biomass solutions provider. The Committee will press Coillte representatives on how their company's strategy can assist in curbing climate change and fostering energy independence. As the largest landowner in the State, the opportunity presented by Coillte forests for domestic and international tourism may also be explored.”

This meeting will take place 2 pm tomorrow, Tuesday 2 October in Committee Room 3, Leinster House 2000. The meeting will commence with the scrutiny of a number of EU legislative proposals.

Committee proceedings can be followed live here.

Ends
For further information contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 6949926
F: +3531 618 4551
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie

Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine - Membership

Deputies:     
Tom Barry, Fine Gael
Pat Deering, Fine Gael
 Andrew Doyle, Fine Gael
 Martin Ferris, Sinn Féin
Martin Heydon, Fine Gael
 Colm Keaveney, Labour
 Michael McNamara, Labour
Eamon Ó Cuiv, Fianna Fáil
Thomas Pringle, Independent

Senators:     
Michael Comiskey , Fine Gael
Paschal Mooney, Fianna Fáil
Pat O’Neill, Fine Gael
Mary Ann O’Brien, Independent
Brian Ó Domhnaill, Fianna Fáil
Susan O’Keeffe, Labour