Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not need to go over the ground already covered by me and others on the devastating impact of accelerated decarbonisation in the midlands region, particularly in my constituency of Laois-Offaly. Neither do I need to go over ground already covered by me and others relating to the subsequent specific needs of the region, which will be accommodated, we would expect, by just transition funds, climate action funds and the EU coal and peat regions in transition fund. I continue, as I did last week, to insist the main criteria associated with such targeted funding should, above all else, assist those areas that have suffered the most job losses. All of these programmes, of course, will seek to stimulate investment, create jobs and improve local social and economic well-being, and in doing so retain and attract people to live and work in the region.

As a public representative and Teachta Dála I continually, in so far as I can, try to assert my influence in attracting inward investment from the private sector. Over the past 12 to 18 months, I have worked with investors led by a Hong Kong national and an investment company to identify a site to progress a planning application for a meat processing plant at Banagher, County Offaly. From a planning perspective, the location at the site of Banagher Chilling, which was previously used as an abattoir, in addition to strict assessment by the planning department of Offaly County Council, which expects to make a decision in the coming days, has involved great cost and expense. The project offers a unique and welcome opportunity to create jobs in Offaly and provide direct access and routes to markets in Asia and increased competition in the beef industry, raising the potential to improve prices for producers, thus helping to boost incomes for farm families. All told, the project is an example of the alternative job prospects needed in Offaly and the midlands region in response to ongoing employment losses in Bord na Móna and the ESB.

Some of the investors involved in the project subsequently made applications under the immigrant investor programme, which is open to applicants who invest more than €1 million. This programme is described by the Government in its official records as an incentive for foreign investment into Ireland. It also states the benefit to the investor is an option of residency while the benefit to Ireland is investment in Ireland and further possible economic activity if resident in Ireland. However, to my utter dismay and disbelief an evaluation committee, made up it seems of senior officials from relevant Departments and some State agencies, has refused the first such application. The committee concluded, it would appear, that the proposed project is not an appropriate project for approval. The committee concluded the project does not align with Government policy on the beef processing industry, having regard to the fact it is not currently policy to pursue the development of additional plants where there is no established deficit in capacity.

I might have been the Minister for agriculture for only 17 days but one would hardly need a green certificate to recognise this conclusion in no way reflects the Irish farming sector's understanding of Government policy which has, for example, over the past ten years sought to open Asian markets, which this plant and project would exclusively supply. Beef and suckler farmers crave new markets and greater competition in the processing sector. Most of all, they crave opportunities, initiatives, programmes and Government policy that maintain and improve incomes for farm families. How then can a €40 million project, which has the approval of the State's planning authority, the co-operation of Offaly County Council, the support of the community in the region, the backing of beef farmers, the support of Bord Bia and the support of the Chinese Embassy, be subject to disapproval by an evaluation committee that oversees this scheme?

This project, it says, does not align with Government policy. Who is on this evaluation committee? Who supplied the reports that it sought and what was contained in them? Can they be made public by the committee so we can investigate further? Would it enlighten us as to where it is stated in Government policy there is no deficit in capacity? We need these answers and we need them fast if we are to secure and proceed with the realisation of 250 jobs in construction and 150 jobs in the plant's operation.

This investment is priceless and I am seeking resolution and approval of applications. It appears it is now a fact that an evaluation committee and its recommendations have the power to jeopardise multimillion investment in rural Ireland and in an area that is crying out for investment, stimulation and jobs to respond to the devastating impact of job losses in Bord na Móna. Can the Minister advise me what options are open for such new applications, or pending applications in this case, to ensure that every opportunity is given for this project to proceed?

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