Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Scannell for the presentation. I find it incredible that the Department is still drafting the terms of the review. Deputy Quinlivan was right in how he reacted to the answer. I raised this matter in a priority parliamentary question a number of weeks ago, as Mr. Scannell will be aware, and the answer I got from the Minister was wholly unsatisfactory. A number of weeks have now elapsed yet the Department is coming in here and saying that the review is still being drafted, that we will have it in due course and that a decision will ultimately be taken, but we do not know who is taking the decision. It appears that IDA Ireland is happy to let the clock run out on this. I am at a loss to know who exactly has the responsibility for driving this review. Is anybody within the Department, from the Minister down, concerned that the current initiative will cease on 26 March, that we will then go into a period of drift and that the momentum that has been built and the connections that have been made could potentially come to naught? This is despite all the work that has been done and the money spent. Mr. Scannell outlined the amount of money that has been paid to ConnectIreland to date.

I find what is happening incredible. Is this is what the Department is serving up to us at this point, namely, that the review is being drafted? As Mr. Scannell indicated, the initial contract ran out last year and an extension was agreed for a further year. I find this wholly incredible. Can Mr. Scannell tell us what the term "due course" means and who will actually make the decision on the review? As we know, there is a dispute between the two organisations. If we are to wait for IDA Ireland to make a decision, I think we will be left waiting. Will the Minister or the Government make a decision on the matter? Is that the nature of the decision-making process?