Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 182: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of his Department's consideration of the applications for the national institute for bioprocessing research and training; when he will make a decision on the applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18719/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment, FDI, to Ireland and its regions. While I may give general policy directives to the agency I am precluded under the relevant legislation from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others.

On 23 July 2004, IDA Ireland, through a series of newspaper advertisements, invited proposals from collaborative groups of academic institutions to undertake the establishment of the national institute for bioprocessing research and training in Ireland. A detailed invitation specification document was issued to prospective applicants which outlined the background, the needs to be addressed, required elements, outputs-deliverables expected, criteria for adjudication and the proposal content details to be submitted.

Proposals were received from three consortia by the closing date of 15 October 2004 and a panel of international experts reviewed the quality, value and impact of the proposed activity on 15 November 2004. The panel's evaluation report, which recommends that IDA, in the first instance, negotiate with the consortium led by UCD, with Trinity College, Dublin and Sligo Institute of Technology as partners, was considered by the board of IDA Ireland on 8 December 2004. They agreed to proceed to the next stage in the process and commence negotiations as recommended by the panel.

I understand that these negotiations are well under way and are dealing with the wide range of substantive issues and recommendations identified in the evaluation report, which were considered by the international experts to be necessary for the successful establishment of the institute. Needless to say, the issue of location will be an integral part of this negotiation process. A proposal was considered by the board of IDA Ireland in May 2005. I understand that a formal proposal is being prepared for submission to my Department, following due consideration of which I will present a memorandum to Government for a final decision on the matter in due course.