Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

[Deputy Mary Lou McDonald.]
Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
his plans to dispose of the harvesting rights of Coillte as part of the programme for Government
State asset disposal programme. [8454/12]
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): No decision has
been taken by the Government in relation to the potential sale of Coillte.
To assist in its examination of options for the possible disposal of State assets, the Government
requested the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in consultation with relevant
line Departments and NewERA, to consider a number of possible State assets for disposal.
In addition, they will advise the Government in relation to the appropriate valuations to
be placed on the assets in question, the most appropriate method of disposal, likely timeframe
and economic impact of any such disposal, in order to inform any decisions that the Government
may wish to make in this regard. Coillte has been included in that valuation exercise.
In relation to the issue of harvesting rights, as I have previously mentioned, one of the
suggested ideas is that a crop, or asset, could be sold through harvesting rights for the next 30
or 50 years, depending on how much value the State wishes to maximise. At the end of the
process, the land would revert to the State, with a requirement in place for reafforestation.
While the sale of harvesting rights is an option, I want to reiterate that no decision has been
made on the sale of Coillte as a company or in terms of forest assets. The large-scale sale of
Coillte land is not an option.
Fishing Industry
590. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
the proposals he has with regard to transparent scientific advice and reports being made available
stating who carried out surveys, when and where, the parties involved and the cost of
independent scientific information supplied by fishermen to be accommodated; and if he will
make a statement on the matter. [8461/12]
591. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the fish industry. [8462/12]
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): I propose to take
Questions Nos. 590 and 591 together.
The Marine Institute provide me with scientific advice to inform policy decisions. It annually
publishes scientific papers including the Stock Book which details for fisheries of interest to
Irish fishermen scientific advice on a stock by stock basis.
The design, management and execution of specific research surveys and data collection exercises
are the sole remit of the Marine Institute and should be raised directly with the Institute.
The Institute liaise and consult on a regular basis with industry interests including through the
well established Industry Science Partnership, which offers a good forum for specific concerns.
Fishery and Aquaculture Products
592. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding marketing and labelling. [8463/12]
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): Under the
umbrella of the Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) the European Commission have
proposed a new regulation “of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Common
Organisation of the Markets in Fishery and Aquaculture Products”.
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