Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I reassure the Deputy that it is a very independent panel of experts which will assess these applications. The applications are very technical, they are about disruptive technologies and what will happen in the future. It is about protecting the jobs of the future because we want to help companies come forward with new technology. We all know the change the phone made in our lives. We are looking to the future. These are all experts on the panel, not only from Ireland but also international experts. The panel will assess them and come to me for final approval but, as the Deputy and I know, these are experts and I will not second-guess the work of any expert. They will come to me and I, like any Minister, will give final approval. It is a very robust system and I am satisfied that it will be a very thorough process. I want to see good applications coming forward and that we support industry by looking at the new technology and the new way of doing business into the future.

See this speech in context