Vol. 225 No. 11
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce when a foreign firm of consultants commenced an examination of the incentives for attracting foreign industry to this country; the number of personnel of this firm in the country on this project; and whether he can state who recommended the use of this foreign firm.
35.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether the present review of incentives for the establishment of foreign industries is taking into account the pattern of future British incentives to their underdeveloped areas.
36.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce when the interim report of the group at present examining incentives for the attraction of foreign industry to Ireland is expected; and whether it will be available to the general public.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 35 and 36, together.
As was announced by my predecessor in the Dáil in May last, the Industrial Development Authority are engaged in making a reappraisal of the approach to the attraction of foreign industry to Ireland. The need for such a reappraisal has been made more urgent by developments both here and elsewhere. These include the prospect of our entry to the Common Market and the Free Trade Area Agreement with Britain. An important consideration is that the incentives available elsewhere in Europe, especially in Northern Ireland and in Britain, have altered considerably since the Irish incentives were introduced. As the attraction of outside industry is a highly competitive field this too suggests the importance and urgency of a reassessment of our incentives.
On the recommendation of the Industrial Development Authority, it was decided to engage the services of a firm of consultants with considerable world wide experience in this work to assist the Authority in the reappraisal. The services of this firm were engaged early in April of this year. Representatives of the firm have visited Ireland in connection with their assignment at various dates since then. No representative of the firm is permanently based in Ireland in connection with the assignment. The question of the publication of any reports arising will be considered when the reports in question are received. As I indicated recently an interim report is expected soon from the firm of consultants.
Is the job of the management consultants purely concerned with the type of financial incentive involved or with examining all areas for attracting firms?
No; it is wider than that.
