Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ar an gcéad dul síos ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis an Aire Stáit. We are delighted to see him back in harness. Whatever he does this time, I ask him not to let anyone try to attempt to take it off him. He was a capable and engaging Minister the previous time I dealt with him from 2007 to 2011 and since then, and I wish him well with the portfolio.

Regarding this legislation, the Screening of Third Country Transactions Bill 2022 from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, yes FDI has played a huge part in our country. I can go back to Merck Sharp & Dohme. It has longevity and is nearly there as long as myself. I remember I was a buachall óg when it came. It is a fabulous company. It is there 50 years or more, provides wonderful employment and is a wonderful company. There are huge numbers in FDI with huge employment and many plants. The Liebherr plant is one I know in the construction sector in Kerry, but I will leave it to the Healy-Raes to mention it, and many others that have done such gallant work.

It is interesting, as we see some people getting ready for government, that we no longer have the clamour to get rid of corporation tax from the parties of the left, on my right. Indeed we have other parties that clamour on a daily basis with outdated ideas that these are anathema and we should not have them. They bring in a huge amount of taxation. I will not get involved in any of that but obviously we have to have checks and balances as well. The perception with the data centres is a very sad one because when people face electricity outages the blame is being apportioned to them. They came in legally through our mechanisms. They were probably enticed in. The EU is happy to have them here for a number of reasons but we should not demonise them because we want more of them to come and to be able to stay here. However, as I said we have weak spots in legislation in many areas. Certainly any of the FDI companies I know of have good records. That is not to say they are all impeccable and we need to keep a close eye on them to make sure we are not a dumping ground for off finance and so forth.

I mentioned Merck Sharp & Dohme. I would like to mention many of employees I know both past and present. One very dedicated former employee who passed away recently was the late George Kelly of Cappagh White and Kilsheelan in Tiobraid Árann. George was a very active, engaged and well-respected member of the workforce in Merck Sharp & Dohme in Ballydine in Clonmel for years. In his retirement he made a huge contribution in the community in which he lived and in Kilsheelan Tidy Towns etc.

While we are passing the legislation there are senior Members of the Government and indeed the Taoiseach regularly going out to the World Economic Forums and to the Bilderberg conference. What is going on there? We have no legislation for it. People are getting worried about who we are serving, what master we are serving. I said this earlier even though the Ceann Comhairle thought I was being theatrical. It is fact. People see this. We are meant to look after our citizens in this country, not kowtowing to wealthy multibillion dollar people with huge resources and what they want the world to do for them and for us to be good boys and sign up to it. We need to look at legislation and keep a record of the travel engagements. I questioned the Taoiseach recently about what went on there. He did not tell me but he said sovereignty was not discussed or our neutrality.

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