Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Infrastructural projects involve significant investment proposals. NewERA does have plans in this regard and can advise Ministers on issues such as broadband investment and so on. Any investment, particularly from the ISIF, must have a commercial outcome, but this does not exclude NewERA from working with the investment fund or making proposals to other parties which, because they have the necessary expertise, might be a suitable vehicle for delivering a particular project. The key objective is transforming infrastructure and analysing existing State companies to identify potential for new synergies. The partial merger of Coillte and Bord na Móna and the associated establishment of BioEnergy Ireland show what is possible. There are radical and significant proposals being made in that area. With respect to Deputy Robet Troy, his amendment has to do with the ISIF, not NewERA. That is the problem.