Sawmilling industry assured on Coillte sale

The position held by Coillte as practically a monopoly supplier of timber to the industry in Ireland will not change significantly if the Government decides to sell the organisation’s timber harvesting rights, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said in the Dáil last week.

“I can reassure people that this Government is not going to proceed with a sale that will undermine or damage the broader timber industry that relies on Coillte,” said Mr Coveney.

“If we do proceed, this will be a major factor in the consideration of how we proceed, to ensure that long-term and medium-term supply contracts remain intact, to ensure this industry continues to grow and expand to its potential.”

Responding to a question from Deputy Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, he said, “We are not in the business of putting a viable and progressive sawmilling industry in Ireland out of business by mishandling a sale or proceeding with a sale in an inappropriate manner.

“As I have said many times, when the Government makes a decision there will be an opportunity for the House to scrutinise that decision and its consequences.”

He also told the Dáil, “I have consistently said throughout the debate on the harvesting rights issue that we want to do two things. First, we need to protect the asset, in terms of woodland, parkland, public access, trails, cycle ways and other amenities, that is the national forest estate that is of real public interest. Second, we need to ensure the industry that has been built up in accessing timber from Coillte forests remains intact.”