Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

That kind of can-do attitude is important at local level, with county enterprise boards working with the local authorities.

With regard to Deputy Penrose's point, the IDA has sold much land to county councils in recent times. I am anxious that the land would continue to be used for employment purposes and indigenous purposes. However, in order to build the sites at Oranmore and so on, it must charge the current market value. It then uses that resource to provide better and more modern facilities to help attract quality investments, which has been the strategy for a number of years and enables us to undertake the projects in Oranmore, in County Louth and elsewhere. In addition, the number of sites has reduced considerably.

On a personal level, I was never a great supporter of the State selling land or having a sale here and there just for the sake of it. I like the idea of selling to the county councils where there is no prospect of multinationals coming in but where we could get significant indigenous projects off the ground. The indigenous story is important and growing. That sector also needs property solutions, which is where we must focus.

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