Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)

The Minister referred to Shannon Development six times in his statement. With such praise, why has he removed its industrial development function? Employment levels in the Shannon region are at their lowest since 1998. The Minister referred to a number of industries that have set up in the region. However, it was 15 years ago that the last real industrial company, Organic Lens, located in County Clare. The Minister also referred to Monster Cable that set up there three years ago. While it claimed it would employ 50 people, it now only employs ten.

There is a view in the region that IDA Ireland only concentrates on the gateways and the eastern regions. Analyses in the past have shown a regional imbalance in foreign direct investment. Does the Minister have confidence in Shannon Development given the way he has been speaking about it? He spoke about information technology on which Shannon Development is concentrating, including investment networks and broadband. Is there a regional imbalance and a focus on the gateways and not on the hubs?

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