Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

In the context of joined-up Government and Cabinet responsibility, the deal under the agricultural compensation package was maximised on the conditions that Greencore's Mallow plant be shut down in its entirety and its sugar processing refinery capacity be eliminated. If any capacity remains the compensation package is reduced. Whose responsibility is it in Government to suggest to Greencore that it lease or sell the plant to another State agency or company to produce ethanol, so that we can reduce the level of CO2 emissions? Is that the responsibility of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the ESB or the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources? Is it the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture and Food or the Taoiseach? Why ask State agencies to invite IDA Ireland to seek inward investment when we have the capacity to do it ourselves?

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