Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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452. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission issued correspondence to her Department with regard to the processing of immigrant investor programme applications for investments within the beef processing sector; if the correspondence made reference to submissions by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43256/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) provides non-EEA nationals with a number of options to invest in Ireland, and successful applicants are granted a permission to reside in Ireland for a fixed period, which is renewable.

Project applications are assessed by an Evaluation Committee, composed of senior civil and public servants from relevant Irish Government Departments and State Agencies involved in enterprise development in Ireland. The projects assessment process involves an examination of the profile of the applicant and an assessment of: the commercial viability of the project; employment outcomes associated with the proposed investment; and the overall benefit to the Irish State. Where necessary the Evaluation Committee will request policy input from the relevant policy Department, if they are not already represented on the Committee. The current structure ensures that I,as Minister, can benefit from expertise beyond that available in my own Department.

The Committee makes a determination as to whether a project is suitable for IIP investment and if deemed suitable, the individual application will be submitted to me for final approval.

I can confirm that a letter was received by my Department from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). However, the correspondence does not reference any particular IIP project or submissions received from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The issues raised in the letter have been brought to the attention of the Evaluation Committee and where any issues of competition arise in relation to a project the advice and guidance from the CCPC will be sought as necessary.