Limerick East): A Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Oral Question No. 2 and Priority Question No. 27 together.
The total value of the investments approved by the National Development Corporation Limited — NADCORP — since taking over from the National Enterprise Agency on 11 June 1986 is £2,981,000. No investment by the corporation to date has required my permission or Government consent. Details of the investments made will be contained in NADCORP's annual report, which is required to be made to me not later than six months after the end of the corporation's financial year. This will subsequently be laid before each House of the Oireachtas. It would be inappropriate to make a general statement on the work of NADCORP in advance of this report.
As indicated in the White Paper on Industrial Policy, the question of a role for NADCORP as a holding company for existing State industries is to be considered by the Government in the light of progress of NADCORP in its basic and innovative tasks. The stage for this consideration has not yet been reached. For a similar reason any question of a transfer of other State-held shares to NADCORP has not yet been considered.
The remainder of the information sought related to the day to day operations of the corporation in regard to which I have no function.