asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, as reported, the Government agreed to guarantee a fifty per cent. mortgage loan for the Shannon Shamrock Hotel and the loan has not been made available.
9.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shannon Shamrock Hotel.
8.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if any delays have arisen regarding the payment of a loan or grant to Field Enterprises Limited in respect of a new hotel recently erected by them; and, if so, the reasons for such delays; if certain concessions are being sought from Bord Fáilte Éireann and his Department regarding further new hotels; and if he will make a statement on the matter with particular reference to a statement by a director of the company that red tape was holding up developments.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9 together.
It is not the practice to disclose information about applications for guaranteed hotel loans in advance of the giving of the guarantees and their inclusion in the returns which are made to the Oireachtas periodically. In view of the recent publicity about this case, however, I can, perhaps, indicate that it has been conveyed to the applicant that a Government-guaranteed loan will be provided and that legal documents in connection with the loan have been prepared and sent to the applicant's solicitors. The loan will be made available as soon as possible after the legal documents have been executed by the applicant.
There is no basis for an allegation of delay in the Departmental consideration of this application for a guaranteed hotel loan.
Question No. 10 postponed.