Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)

I tabled this question because in 2003 a sudden and inexplicable decision was made by Glanbia, which was then proceeding with the development in Roosky, to do a U-turn and invest instead in Edenderry and Roscrea. Concern was expressed at the time that influence was used to transfer the operation from Roosky. I raised this issue with the Minister's predecessor, the current Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, who made a commitment to a certain group that no influence would be used and that funding would not be used to transfer jobs from Roosky to Edenderry.

The Minister and his predecessor said the Government was examining the position on the recoupment of money in the context of the cannery operation and other developments at the Roosky site. In light of this, why is the Department saying it is now considering the issue not in the context of the cannery and the development of that site but in the context of the developments in Edenderry and Roscrea, which were not supposed to be grant-aided and for which no grant aid has been furnished to date because of the transfer of jobs from Roosky thereto?

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