Dan Boyle (Green Party)

This is a welcome Bill. The need to tidy up the apparatus of industrial development has long been discussed and the legislation is an attempt to reshape that infrastructure. While it has been long necessary in administrative terms, in this period in which we must seek value for money in all aspects of Government, the Bill is doubly important. It also affords the Minister and her Department an opportunity to tidy up other areas. For example, the west and other areas require additional assistance from State industries to promote industrial development.

I especially welcome the changes in research and development grants. We heard from Senator Quinn about the importance of maintaining and encouraging foreign direct investment. It is clear, however, that the next phase of economic development will strongly depend on research and development which delivers a greater indigenous industrial base. I am optimistic we can achieve this objective, especially through green technology. More than 30 years ago we made the major mistake of declining to use our natural resources, specifically wind, for energy generation. Not only did other countries, such as Denmark, generate electricity through wind, they also developed new technology which they were able to export. Ireland is now availing of this technology as we catch up.

Ireland has natural advantages in alternative energies other than wind. We are starting to do things properly, particularly in the area of wave industry. I expect the west to achieve considerable success in research and development in this area. I am aware, for example, of work being done by a company known as Ocean Energy, which is in a third phase of research and development in Galway Bay. It has progressed from a pool size model of a turbine to a quarter size model through to a full size model.

In the new apparatus which exists in industrial development, it does not necessarily need to be legislated for, but perhaps the Minister might give a sense of political direction as to how other State agencies and non-governmental organisations can become involved in the process of economic development and renewal, particularly in the west.

There are State agencies such as the Western Development Commission, which makes regular recommendations on how we can improve both infrastructure and the quality of industrial development in the west of Ireland. We also have agencies such as the Council of the West which is run by the Catholic Church. It produces many interesting papers as to the direction we should go from here on in.

The Government is acutely aware that regarding industrial development, the real need in the west of Ireland and other disadvantaged areas of the country which needs to be met is the infrastructure deficit, particularly in transport and communications. These are difficult fiscal times but I am confident the commitment remains to appropriate capital investment, which has to be done in a widespread way across the country.

We must not repeat the mistakes of the past, where a capital city has 40% of the population and acts as a magnet for a disproportionate amount of development and investment which should be more widely and fairly distributed throughout the country. We also need to recognise the need to develop the less advantaged areas in the country and that this administrative change is necessary and welcome. The change which the Bill allows for research and development is to be especially welcomed and will have a greater effect on areas outside major urban centres than would otherwise be the case.

I welcome this Bill and look forward to its enactment.