Thank you, Sir, for allowing me raise this matter on the Adjournment but it is regrettable I have to raise it in this manner. The action of the Minister in lodging a formal objection with An Bord Pleanála is unprecedented in the history of the State. The Minister has objected to a decision taken by a Government of which he was a member and which is supported by this Government. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry made great play of the Masonite project by visiting Carrick-on-Shannon on his first day in office to announce its establishment, despite the fact that he was the beneficiary of actions taken by previous Ministers and the previous Government of which the Minister, Deputy Higgins, was a member.
Why did the Minister object to this project? Who advised him to do so and why did his Department not clarify the matters he claims are important when the Office of Public Works, the prescribed body, was formally notified by Leitrim County Council when the planning application was lodged? Why did he wait until ten minutes before the closing time for lodging objections to lodge his appeal? Did he know what he was doing or did someone advise him badly in regard to the logic of lodging such an appeal.
This appeal has caused serious damage to Forbairt, IDA Ireland and other promotional organisations of the State. Two weeks ago Members went to the Washington Conference to encourage American industry to locate here. We used Masonite as an example of a major project that would be based in the Border regions, the focus of that conference. I am sure the Minister is well aware of the shock we experienced on Monday last when we discovered the Minister had lodged a formal appeal to An Bord Pleanála in regard to the project. He stated his main concern was the visual impact the project would have on adjacent amenities. Did he read the conditions Leitrim County Council put in the planning application? Did he read the formal conditions concerning landscaping and the preservation of adjacent amenities? I do not believe he did. If he had he would not have lodged an objection.
The project would create 330 direct and approximately 150 indirect jobs in the area, the equivalent of at least 5,000 in Dublin. We are talking about an area in great need of investment. If this plant does not proceed there will be adverse effects for the sawmilling industry in the west. The plant would be strategically located. It would be adjacent to the Dublin-Sligo railway line and the N4, it has a sufficient water supply to allow effective operation of its cooling system and it would be located at the hub of the main material suppliers for the plant.
This opportunity must be grasped by the Government and all those in a position to expedite the matter. I appeal to the Minister to discuss his concerns with the company. He should request his officials to examine the way the planning application was processed by Leitrim County Council and to explain why they did not bring the matter to his notice until such a late stage. Did the Minister inform the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry or the Taoiseach of his intention to lodge a formal appeal? From the information available to me, I do not believe he did. When the Taoiseach was informed of the matter by one of my constituency colleagues on Monday morning last he expressed horror and shock that a Minister in Government should decide to object to a project that had full Government backing.
I am aware the Minister sent officials of his Department to Drumsna to examine the area yesterday. The Masonite Corporation went to enormous lengths to ensure the project was environmentally friendly and planned to the highest standards and Leitrim County Council did likewise regarding its preparations. If the project was planned for Galway west, would the Minister formally object to it?
