Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 328: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding approval that he gave in May 2007 to a company (details supplied) to take occupancy in the IDA park in Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23426/07]

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

Under the Industrial Development Acts, IDA Ireland is independent of the Minister of the day in the exercise of its functions relating to the purchase, disposal or leasing of property. However, ministerial consent for the disposal or granting of a lease is required in certain circumstances. In the case of the company mentioned by the Deputy, ministerial consent under section 3(4) of the Industrial Development Act 1995 was required because it was not an IDA or Enterprise Ireland grant-aided company and therefore not a qualifying entity for the purposes of section 16 of the Industrial Development Act 1986.

On the advice of IDA Ireland, I signed the necessary order on 3 May 2007. The issuing of ministerial consent allowed the owners of the BES office facility in the IDA Park to proceed to agree terms concerning the lease of office space in the building to the company. However, in August 2007, the owners of the office facility informed IDA Ireland that negotiations with the company had not been successful and that the company's interest in the facility has terminated.