asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that An Foras Tionscal interpret Article 5 of the First Schedule to the Undeveloped Areas Act, 1952, as precluding the furnishing by them of particulars as to the amount of public moneys allocated to a firm; and whether he agrees with that interpretation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foras Tionscal Grants.
47.
Mr. Ryan
Particulars of projects for which grants have been approved are not published by An Foras Tionscal until they are included in the annual report for the year in which payment of grant has actually commenced. Whether this practice is based on an interpretation of Article 5 of the First Schedule to the Undeveloped Areas Act, 1952, or otherwise, I am in full agreement with it having regard to the necessity to preserve confidentiality in relation to proposals for the establishment or development of industries.
Mr. Ryan
Is the Minister aware that An Foras Tionscal informed a member of the public recently that the reason they refused to give the information about the amount of public money which had been allocated or granted was that they were precluded by Article 5 of the First Schedule to the 1952 Act, which merely prohibits them from disclosing the private affairs of any company, and it is the Minister's opinion that it is the private affair of a company that any public moneys have been allocated or granted to a company?
I am not concerned with what reason they gave for non-disclosure, but, as I said in the original reply, I fully agree with non-disclosure of these details, whether it is the private affairs of the company or otherwise, because I am convinced that any disclosure of these transactions in advance of the actual undertaking commencing might be deleterious to the project as a whole and the prospect of any employment being given.
Mr. Ryan
There is no authority whatever for it in the Act.