Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

On the last question, that four chief executive officers left over a period of five years is a clear indication of the correctness of the decision made and of the fact that MLE certainly had its difficulties. The company made its own decisions in this matter and it had nothing to do with the Department. The company was a stand-alone company and not a semi-State company and therefore the decision on job cuts was the responsibility of the board. This also holds true for the decision to liquidate the company. The latter decision was made on foot of the Government's decision that no further funding would be made available.

At the time of liquidation, the number of staff amounted to no more than 50. Many of these were researchers and were not employed by the company on a full-time basis. They were contracted to work for specified periods. A number of students were also employed, who were obviously associated with colleges and continued to do their research.

On the question as to whether there was any return on the €35.5 million invested or whether the State expects to obtain further returns, the buildings are and were State-owned. That the company employed people over the five years of its existence resulted in the lodgment of a number of patents, thereby resulting in some returns to the State. The details on achievements over the five years are available on the Department's website.

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