Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy was part of that Government and he is correct. In the NAMA Bill politicians were exempt, and rightly so, from interfering with or talking to NAMA. However, the Minister for Finance can do that, and I will tell him the Deputy's concerns about this issue.

I want to put on the public record that I agree with the Deputy but I worry about NAMA's valuations with regard to this particular piece of land. The Deputy is correct. With the special areas of conservation, SACs, and the habitats directive it will not be used for development; there will be major restrictions in that regard.

My budget this year for the National Parks & Wildlife Service is €2.5 million so I do not have the resources. I will have to talk to the Minister for Finance.

I am dealing with another situation where it is in the public interest, and I repeat that I worry about the valuations NAMA is putting on these properties. I cannot interfere, and I cannot make that point to NAMA, but I can make it in the Dáil. This is in the public interest. I would like to see this property being acquired by the State but with the price I am told NAMA is looking for it is not commercially viable. I will ask the Minister for Finance to intervene with NAMA. I cannot personally do that. I will ask my officials again to talk with NAMA, the Minister for Finance and officials in the Department of Finance to see what can be done because what the Deputy stated is correct.

I will travel to Wicklow National Park next week where I will have an opportunity to examine the area. I have visited it in the past. It is a beautiful area and I would love to see this land being bought by the State. I cannot intervene but I will ask my officials to talk to the Minister for Finance. I will ask the Minister for Finance what we can be done with this land.

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