Vol. 490 No. 2
83 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, further to Question No. 53 of 26 February 1998 and following her attendance at the annual general meeting of a company (details supplied) in Belfast on 6 March 1998, she will outline the options available to the State regarding the future of this company; the preferred option of the Government, including the timescale proposed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9929/98]
As the Deputy will be aware, ICI has indicated a desire to dispose of its 49 per cent shareholding in Irish Fertilizer Industries (IFI). On the day of the recent annual general meeting of IFI, I met with the board following that meeting and, in particular, the ICI nominated directors, to discuss ICI's intentions and my own interest in the company's future. In addition, I also had on a separate occasion a productive meeting with representatives of the IFI group of unions.
I will shortly be discussing the matter with the chairman of ICI to examine the available options and to seek to make progress on an agreed approach to funding a new shareholder to replace ICI. Pending such contact with ICI, no firm decisions have yet been taken regarding IFI. However, I can assure the Deputy that my priority is to seek to secure the future of IFI as a fertilizer manufacturer and to ensure that the maximum level of employment possible is maintained. To this end, I expect that matters will progress significantly in the coming months.
