Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy that it is important that these developments take place sensitively and, wherever possible, with the consent and support of local communities.

I set out some ways in which communities might become involved. I also set out, in the strategic policy statement to which I refer, possibilities for community gain and community participation. Deputy Pringle is bringing different considerations to bear in this instance from those which he would, for example, apply in respect of an IDA Ireland plant in his constituency. I do not recall too many examples of people in this country walking into the offices of the managing directors of such plants and asking "Can I have 5% of the action and will you build a swimming pool and provide an all-weather pitch down the road?" We should not lose the run of ourselves. What we are doing is taking another national resource and trying to make it work to create employment and generate wealth. That is the object of the exercise and I agree with Deputy Pringle that this must be done in a sensitive manner which is likely to attract the support of local people. Such support is always important. However, I do not believe we should get up on our high horses and seek to impose, in this instance, the type of regime we would not apply in respect of other foreign direct investment coming into Ireland.

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