Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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422. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide full disclosure of the terms under which the State seaweed processing company, Arramara Teoranta, was sold to Acadian Seaplants; and for this disclosure to include the sum for which the company was sold. [31487/14]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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423. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason the sale of Arramara Teoranta was not put out to tender; the reason Údarás advised an Oireachtas joint subcommittee to regulate the industry even as it was trying to dispose of Arramara; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31489/14]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 422 and 423 together.

The sale of Údarás na Gaeltachta's shares in Arramara Teo to Acadian Seaplants Ltd was approved by the board of Údarás on 1 March 2013, subject to Ministerial approval being obtained and legal details being agreed. Following an assessment of the proposal, I granted approval for the sale on 29 July 2013, subject to a number of specific conditions being fulfilled. I am advised that the sale of Arramara Teo was concluded on 7 May 2014 and that Údarás na Gaeltachta is satisfied that the conditions laid down have been fully complied with.

With regard to the sale process itself, I understand that Údarás na Gaeltachta considered that the most appropriate mechanism was to engage consultants to identify potential strategic partners in the seaweed industry for the purpose of securing the future development of Arramara Teo. I am advised by Údarás na Gaeltachta that that process was carried out in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies (2009).

I understand that Údarás na Gaeltachta engaged consultants RSM FGS in July 2010 to assist in identifying a potential strategic partner for Arramara Teo. I understand that RSM FGS compiled a list of nine potential partners, who were invited to submit expressions of interest. Six expressions of interest were received, which were assessed and shortlisted to three preferred potential partners, ranked first, second, and third. I understand that the first-ranked preferred potential partner was granted a period of exclusivity in order to enable it to undertake a process of due diligence and that it subsequently indicated that it was no longer interested in Arramara Teo. As the next ranked preferred potential partner, I understand that negotiations were opened with Acadian Seaplants Ltd, which culminated in the sale to it of Údarás na Gaeltachta's shares in Arramara Teo. The identification process and the negotiations with the potential partners identified took place during the period from July 2010 to February 2013.

I am satisfied that the best value that could be obtained for Arramara Teo was achieved through this course of action. As a multinational company based in Nova Scotia, Canada with significant experience in the seaweed processing sector, I am satisfied that Acadian Seaplants Ltd has the expertise to develop Arramara Teo and secure its long-term future for the benefit of its stakeholders. I believe that this strategic partnership will secure Arramara's future in Connemara and will result in the development of the seaweed processing sector here.

In that context, I particularly welcome the announcement made by Acadian Seaplants Ltd on 4 July that it is to make an initial investment of €2 million in Arramara Teo as a first step and that further investment will follow in areas of research, development of value-added products, market development, processing technologies and capital expenditure. I am confident that these investments will ensure a continuous demand for seaweed from the local harvesters and will provide additional employment in the area.

While I am unable to give any further details with regard to the terms of the sale of Arramara Teo because of the confidentiality provisions of the contract, I am advised by Údarás na Gaeltachta that continuity of supply to Arramara's existing Irish customers is assured. One of the conditions of the sale agreement between Údarás na Gaeltachta and Acadian Seaplants Ltd related to existing Irish customers of Arramara Teo being guaranteed supply of product on reasonable terms and conditions into the future. In that regard, Údarás na Gaeltachta has confirmed that the sale agreement provides for the protection of future supply to existing Irish customers of Arramara Teo, with no increase in price for Year 1 and with prices advantageous to the Irish customers as against international customers being secured. It is also understood that Acadian Seaplants Ltd has covenanted to continue to supply the Irish customers. In the event of a breach of covenant, Údarás na Gaeltachta has advised that penalties would apply.

With regard to the hearings of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht on the licensing and harvesting of seaweed on 8 July, I understand that Údarás na Gaeltachta advocated that the harvesting of wild seaweed should be regulated in the interest of attracting investment to develop the sector. I understand that Údarás na Gaeltachta has been advocating regulation in the sector since 2006, when it first made submissions to the relevant Departments on the issue of licensing. I also understand that this position was underlined in work carried out in 2007 on A Resource Development Strategy for the Gaeltacht Coastal Zoneby Dr. Valerie Cummins, Director of the Coastal and Marine Research Centre (CMRC), University College Cork. Accordingly, I hope the Deputy will appreciate that this issue is independent of the sale of Arramara Teo.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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424. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide detail all grants and public funds allocated to an organisation (details supplied) in County Limerick over the past 20 years; the corporate structure of this organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30719/14]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The annual administration grants provided to the organisation referred to by the Deputy from 2004 to date are set out in the following table.