Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

I seek clarity. I do not come from a coastal or a Gaeltacht area, nor am I familiar with such areas. However, I am alarmed by what I have read in the submissions and what I have heard today. I know there are other groups from which we are waiting to hear. However, the answers to the key questions lie with Údarás na Gaeltachta as to the reason for what seems to be its strange decision to sell Aramara Teoranta to a foreign company, considering that its raison d'êtreis to encourage Irish-based indigenous small-scale industries to keep people in rural and Gaeltacht areas. That and other questions that have been raised are the ones that most need to be answered. I do not know whether the committee will be empowered to investigate the decision. These are sensitive practices, for the ocean and ecology. It is bizarre that any company would be given control of our natural resources, but this seems to be a growing trend on the part of the Government. I have heard the submissions and there are many representatives present, but Údarás na Gaeltachta needs to make a submission and answer some of the questions put.