Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I listened attentively to all the speakers in the debate. I thank everybody for their engagement, particularly those who supported the Bill, and for their comments and observations on the Bill. I look forward to working positively with the Members as the Bill progresses through the Houses in the coming weeks and months.

Deputy O'Rourke obviously is aware of the importance of foreign direct investment in his constituency for the creation of jobs. That is also the case in the Ceann Comhairle's constituency, as well as in Deputy Quinlivan's. Deputy Quinlivan is supporting the Bill. Foreign direct investment is important in those constituencies and it complements the indigenous industries. Foreign direct investment played an important role in our economic recovery and in job creation. Consider the high unemployment rate we had in 2008. It is now 6%, which is almost at full employment.

I note Deputy Clare Daly's comments as well. I wish to reiterate that the IDA certainly does not rely on compulsory purchase orders to acquire land for industrial development purposes. That will not change and there are strict regulations in the Bill to ensure that.

In response to Deputy Mattie McGrath's comments on foreign direct investment, it is clear from the IDA's annual end of year returns that 45% of the jobs created are outside the Dublin area. In the case of Enterprise Ireland it is 65%. Jobs are being created in every region and county. I wish to correct the Deputy in that regard.

With regard to Deputy Troy, I visited Mullingar recently. For a few hours in the afternoon I visited the Mergon Group. It is an indigenous company but it has spread its wings into Germany and the US. It is a very good company and employs many workers, particularly in the robotics area. That is the type of industry we want for the future and I was very impressed by its works. I also visited the former Imperial Tobacco factory and saw the work taking place there. There is potential to create jobs in that area as well. I hope we will continue to invest in Mullingar. As the Deputy said, it is almost in the middle of the country and there is a good road network into it. We will certainly encourage the IDA to ensure that places such as Mullingar are included in future job creation.

I mentioned earlier that the IDA has no additional or strengthened property powers. In fact, in many respects the IDA's compulsory purchase powers will be far more restricted by this Bill and the clearly defined constraints in the legislation. In practical terms, in the unforeseen event of the IDA pursuing another compulsory purchase order, the only thing that will change on foot of the legislation is the process the IDA will be required to use. That process is closely aligned to the well-established existing process that applies to local authorities under the Housing Acts and is a far more open and transparent process than what is currently in place.

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The introduction of a full role for An Bord Pleanála provides an additional air of oversight and brings the whole process into line with those that apply in other State bodies. Foreign direct investment helps to generate and drive economic activity in Ireland. Statistics show that it also plays a key role in boosting regional development, as I have outlined.

The Government, my Department and IDA Ireland are doing everything possible to create and sustain employment opportunities and this legislation will remove any potential barrier in that ambition. This ambition for the success of our economy is shared by most Deputies in the House. Without foreign direct investment and without the work done by our agencies, we would not be in the position today of being the fastest growing economy in the EU. This is why I dispute some of the comments made by Deputy Clare Daly.

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