Bertie Ahern to buy Coillte?

Sparks

Interesting article in the Tribune, if only tangentially linked to shooting:

Ahern's international forestry body could own 7% of Irish land

International firm chaired by former taoiseach eyeing up Coillte, the state's most valuable asset
Ken Foxe and Conor McMorrow


Fears that an international forestry firm chaired by Bertie Ahern could soon own 7% of Ireland are to be raised in the Dáil this week.

Sinn Féin's natural resources spokesman Martin Ferris said he wanted the government to allay fears that an international forestry body, of which the former taoiseach is chairman, is about to make a bid to buy Coillte, which owns 7% of the land in the state.

Colm McCarthy's 2009 An Bord Snip Nua report suggested that the state could garner "once-off receipts for the exchequer" through a "review of the operations of Coillte with a view to realising optimal return through rationalisation, asset disposal and, possibly, privatisation".

McCarthy is now heading up a body which is looking into the potential fire sale of state assets such as Coillte.

According to Department of Finance accounts for last year, Coillte is the most valuable state asset, with a net value of over €1.2bn. This is not the worth of the trees but the value of the land on which they are planted.

Earlier this year, the Sunday Tribune revealed that Ahern was appointed chairperson of the International Forestry Fund.

Significantly, a spokesman for the fund confirmed to this newspaper some months ago that the fund would consider an acquisition of Coillte.

A spokeswoman for Ahern said this weekend that "as he understands it, the International Forestry Fund has no intention of putting in a bid for Coillte".

Ferris will raise his fears about the potential sale of Coillte in the Dáil because "7% of our land could be sold to a private corporation. It is no coincidence I think that the expression of interest follows on the McCarthy report that Coillte be either privatised or asset-stripped, and the pressure on the government to sell off state assets as part of the IMF programme.

"This cannot be allowed to happen. Our forestry and the land are key national assets."

Ferris added: "I will allow others to make what they will of our former taoiseach's part in all of this."

However, Paul Brosnan of the International Forestry Fund said no bid had yet been made despite rumours of an impending sale.

"I can confirm that the International Forestry Fund has not made a bid for Coillte's assets... but I will keep you informed if we ever do," he said.

The International Forestry Fund is backed principally by the Irish Forestry Fund and Helvetia Wealth AG of Switzerland.

Based in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, it claims it can give the benefits of an offshore bank account to ordinary investors.

jezko

Sparks wrote: »

Interesting article in the Tribune, if only tangentially linked to shooting:

When will that Creature do us all a big favour and just curl up and Die...

maxxie

put your guns to good use for once!

jezko

maxxie wrote: »

put your guns to good use for once!

you do all society a service by controlling Vermin

dicky82

WANTED FOR ECONOMIC TREASON, ONE BERTIE AHERN. LAST SEEN IN A CUBBORD. REWARD IS 80 BILLION. RECCOMENDED METHOD OF CAPTURE IS RAT TRAP. HE CAN BE LURED IN WITH THE SMELL OF MONEY AS BAIT. PLEASE ENSURE THE TRAP HAS NARROW BARS AS HE IS SO SLIMEY HE'LL PROBABLY SLIP THROUGH THE BARS.

Anto...

dicky82 wrote: »

WANTED FOR ECONOMIC TREASON, ONE BERTIE AHERN. LAST SEEN IN A CUBBORD. REWARD IS 80 BILLION. RECCOMENDED METHOD OF CAPTURE IS RAT TRAP. HE CAN BE LURED IN WITH THE SMELL OF MONEY AS BAIT. PLEASE ENSURE THE TRAP HAS NARROW BARS AS HE IS SO SLIMEY HE'LL PROBABLY SLIP THROUGH THE BARS.

hahaha:p gud one

badshot

dicky82 wrote: »

WANTED FOR ECONOMIC TREASON, ONE BERTIE AHERN. LAST SEEN IN A CUBBORD. REWARD IS 80 BILLION. RECCOMENDED METHOD OF CAPTURE IS RAT TRAP. HE CAN BE LURED IN WITH THE SMELL OF MONEY AS BAIT. PLEASE ENSURE THE TRAP HAS NARROW BARS AS HE IS SO SLIMEY HE'LL PROBABLY SLIP THROUGH THE BARS.

very good:D:D:D:D:D

johngalway

Coillte stalkers.... Get ready for a hike in the "dig out" fund.

Cass

Lads, while we are all annoyed at this and the possible consequences it may bring please keep your posts within the rules of the forum and refrain from posting allegations or accusations against any named individuals.

Birdnuts

This is too horrible to contemplate for so many reasons - and I fear Bord na Mona lands won't be too far behind:(:(:(:(:mad:

IceMaiden

I don’t know much about this ,but notice hes mentioned as anti fieldsports by the anti movement in Ireland, [What are your politicians saying about blood sports field sports]
http://www.banbloodsports.com/views.htm
I can only add is this type of approach going to be the thin end of the wedge ,by seeing whats taking place this season in GB/UK forestry plantations. Taken from the shooting times.

[
[There will be no coveted right and left at woodcock this season if you shoot on some[UK/GB] Forestry Commission land. Ian investigates..
The ban, which has angered many, has been seen as heavy handed in both its implementation and enforcement.
The Forestry Commission (FC) is the country’s largest landowner controlling 2.6 million acres]

round tower huntsman

not good news, he contaminates everything he touches. as far as being an anti, ahern isnt anti anything he just pro bertie. if its in his own interest he'll do it,no matter what it is. a snake.

jezko

jezko wrote: »

When will that Creature do us all a big favour and just curl up and Die...

Him and his cronies made a hames of the country, now he wants to make a hames of our forestry. The animals may increase their saving of acorns and berries because when Bertie is finished there wont be a pine cone left. He has proven he couldn't run a chicken coup let alone a country.

one of the woodland residents on hearing the speculation

4gun

Deleted User wrote: »

one of the woodland residents on hearing the speculation

this fellow isn't welcome either

d0.0b

I'm just upset that stories like these basically validate claims made by all the conspiracy theorists out there.

Cheifly,

1. The FED/NWO/IMF (insert fav org here) move in and 'help' a country sort out it's finances (like the kind generous folk the must be)

2. Fire-sale of said countries assets to private/dubious individuals

3. Erasing of the word National from the dictionary

4. Profit ????

4gun

4gun wrote: »

this fellow isn't welcome either

so so true

crackcrack30

The rent gained from ground rents on mobile masts alone must be Huge...........was up at one today about 12 dishes on it.

4gun

4gun wrote: »

this fellow isn't welcome either

On that note which should be eradicated first.... the grey squirrel or fianna fail?