Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

I take what the Deputy said in good faith. Given that Mullingar has a strong stakeholder forum, I respectfully suggest it should take up the cudgel through its local public representatives to forge a closer link or dynamic with the IDA in respect of the issues he has outlined.

With regard to a site visit, I can bring this to the attention of the Minister. I have visited AIT and NUIM. They are two fine institutions conducting world class research and there is continued investment by the Government in science, technology and innovation to ensure this world class research can be maintained.

There is merit in the Deputy's contribution. There has to be a dialogue around these sites throughout the country and how they are marketed and utilised. We need a discussion about a more lateral approach and if a set of potential investors locally or a set of stakeholders or entrepreneurs who are from without the IDA portfolio want to engage, an approach should be made to the authority to discuss the potential of the land use. I fail to see why that could not happen. I thank the Deputy for raising these issues.

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