Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the issue of balanced regional development, I am concerned that some of the previous suggestions will be taken on board as to do so would tie the Government's hands in respect of where the money could and could not be spent.

I am not in favour of placing any geographical impediment on the sale by virtue of the fact that Deputy Harrington, I and other Deputies represent these areas. A gas main goes through my constituency but it does not serve communities, it serves an industrial output. Anyway, the fact that it is there suggests there is potential for the future. I am reluctant to suggest that strict criteria should be laid out in terms of what the Government should do in particular regions. I agree that ultimately, balanced regional development must come about in the first instance by putting the infrastructure in place but I do not believe the infrastructure can go in place on a willy-nilly basis either. There must be an economic stand-up for it. I have grave concerns in respect of anything that would tie the Government's hands in future with regard to the expenditure of a State asset for the purposes of trying to create jobs based on a geographical impediment alone, especially if it excluded my own region.