Forestry Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 February 2023

Thursday, 23 February 2023

Questions (284)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

284. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he, as a golden shareholder, will call an EGM to amend the principal objects of the State forestry board of Coillte Teoranta from its sole definition as ‘commercial’ to include ‘environmental’ and ‘social’ factors, as is required under the definition of ‘sustainable development’, to which Ireland is committed; if he will indicate whether it is his intention to change Coillte’s mandate along these lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9322/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The 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 to Coillte on 2nd June 2022. It is published on my Department's website and available at the following link gov.ie - Forestry policy and strategy (www.gov.ie). This letter clearly outlines my Department's requirements from Coillte in relation to environmental and social policies.