Forestry company land acquisition powers
The proposed forestry company would acquire land under its memorandum and articles of association; the Minister’s existing statutory acquisition power would remain for the present. He declined to specify the company’s power in the Bill, saying the articles were sufficient.
asked the Minister for Energy if it is his intention to retain the function of land acquisition for forestry purposes within his Department.
Comment on this
The new company whose establishment is proposed in the Forestry Bill, 1988, will have the necessary powers in their memorandum and articles of association to acquire land for forestry in the same way as any other company.
The power to acquire land which I have in the Forestry Act, 1946, will be retained for the present. This power is availed of by the Wildlife Service to acquire land for wildlife purposes.
Comment on this
Is the power to acquire land by the new forestry company, which was referred to by the Minister, specified in the Bill?
Comment on this
No. It will be contained in the memorandum and articles of association, which is normal practice.
Comment on this
As I indicated in my reply on Second Stage, all the developments regarding the funding of the company clearly indicate the necessity to continue to acquire land for further afforestation. The principle in the Bill is to continue down that road and I do not see a need specifically to include this in the Bill when it is already in the memorandum and articles of association.