Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her response. I would like to record my appreciation of the work that InterTradeIreland has done since its establishment following the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. It is an all-Ireland body that does exceptionally good work. I hope it is adequately resourced to do the very important work that will be required over the next few years.

I have another issue, on which I do not expect a reply from the Minister, about two substantial landbanks. One is in Cavan town of 40 acres is owned by IDA Ireland. It is serviced and available for the location of industry. Similarly, there is a site in Monaghan town that is a substantial landbank owned by IDA Ireland. I would appreciate if the Minister could speak to the chief executive officer and the senior officials of IDA Ireland on the potential and the need to market those locations. It would be a timely booster of confidence for the Border region if we were to attract some industry to the area, be it the development of an indigenous industry or a foreign direct investor. I appeal to the Minister to speak to the senior people in IDA Ireland to put a particular focus on the needs of Cavan and Monaghan.

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