Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has received proposals for the sale of 32 acres by the Dublin Port Company for the development of a national conference centre; his views on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27504/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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On 18 May, the Department received a letter from Dublin Port Company requesting ministerial approval for its proposal to enter into an arrangement with a consortium as detailed in draft heads of terms attached to the letter. The company states that, in essence, the proposal provides that, in the event that the consortium is successful in its bid for the development of the national conference centre and appropriate planning and other consents issue in respect of the national conference centre, Dublin Port Company will make available a site in order to facilitate the development of the national conference centre together with further and complementary commercial development.

The Department had a number of consultations with the Department of Finance regarding the application of the code of practice and the legislative provisions relevant to the particular case presented to it by Dublin Port Company. In this context, the two Departments agreed that it was necessary to seek the advice of the Attorney General on the matter, in particular regarding the process applicable to the proposal by Dublin Port Company to make available to the Anna Livia Consortium a site in order to facilitate the development of the national conference centre together with further and complementary commercial development. Some advice was received from the Attorney General on 29 July 2005 in this regard and further advice is awaited. A reply to the Dublin Port Company letter of 18 May will issue when all the necessary advice is to hand and fully considered.