Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator MacSharry raised the question of EirGrid and the expert group that is being formed. I certainly would not agree with his comments that it is a fruitless exercise. I would prefer to wait for the report before I would make any such statement.

In regard to the IDA and investment in the regions, I would agree totally with the Senator but we cannot dictate to industrialists that are coming into this country where they should go. It is a decision between Ireland and very many other countries where industries eventually go. I would certainly agree that there should be more emphasis by the IDA on the regions but I think it is doing that. We can see that there has been an increased number of visits by the IDA but that is not bringing the desired results.