Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 16 February 2017
Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach
Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised)
11:10 am
John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source
The Taoiseach heads up many trade missions. They are very important, and even more important now as we enter into the uncertainties that Brexit will bring to the European Union and specifically to Ireland. IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland work hand in hand with the Taoiseach in that. A difference has emerged between Connect Ireland, a private company, and the IDA. it would be unfortunate if that difference, relating to money due to that private company, is not resolved, because it should be all hands on deck in relation to Brexit. That company fulfils a place in the market and it is needed. A question has arisen about a disputed amount of €14 million. I have asked the IDA and Martin Shanahan to try to expedite a resolution to that. I am making the Taoiseach aware of it because on trade missions one comes across all sorts of leads and potential for the country, and it would be a shame if Connect Ireland, a successful project, was to be discontinued in some way and that the matter was not resolved.
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