Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Enterprise Ireland is the agency involved and my Department does not get involved in the day-to-day administration of grants or the return thereof. This is fundamentally a matter for the agency. The House has delegated this authority to it and the other industrial development agencies. We cannot delegate authority to the agencies while at the same time running their day-to-day operations. I do not mean that in a derogatory way but we frequently delegate authority and then try to haul it back when an issue of concern arises relating to a constituency or a particular issue. That said, I accept the Deputy's genuine commitment to and interest in securing further employment at the site in Roosky. I understand Enterprise Ireland is also very keen to add to the development in Roosky and some of the negotiations will take on board whatever can potentially be added to the site.

In previous replies reference was made to the significant progress on the pork development side, albeit not at the Roosky site but in Edenderry and Roscrea. It was stated that significant investment was made by the company concerned to increase employment in the latter locations. Neither the Deputy nor Enterprise Ireland can ignore this, bearing in mind that the Deputy's key focus is on the Roosky site. The situation in that regard is somewhat complex. There are issues which are somewhat fluid at the moment and the agency has assured me it is actively considering a range of options.

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