Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the current position regarding the sale of lands at the former Irish Glass Bottle factory site; if he will also outline the position regarding the port company's plans for a second site opposite the Point Depot; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27898/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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On 17 June 2005 Dublin Port Company wrote to me to the effect that the company had received notices of intention from a tenant to acquire the fee simple interest at the Irish Glass Bottle site. In the first instance, this is a matter for the company and I understand it is procuring legal advice in the matter. Dublin Port Company has a number of legal defences available to it and these will be relied on to the fullest extent. This is a complex and technical area of law and Dublin Port Company is taking further legal advice in the matter.

Turning to the second element of the question concerning the port company's plans for a second site opposite the Point Depot, the Department received a letter from Dublin Port Company on 18 May 2005 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. This agreement relates to a plot of land opposite the Point Depot. 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.

I can inform the Deputy that some advice has been received from the Attorney General on 29 July 2005 in this matter and that further advice is awaited. A reply to the Dublin Port Company letter of 18 May 2005 requesting ministerial approval in this matter will issue when all the necessary advice is to hand and fully considered.