Vol. 521 No. 2
1 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the number of pieces of correspondence relating to Government business or invitations he has received from a person or company (details supplied) since becoming Taoiseach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16354/00]
Since becoming Taoiseach I have received nine pieces of correspondence from this person. Four of these were invitations to perform official openings, one was a request for a meeting, three were representations regarding a moratorium on the square footage allowable for retail food developments and the ninth one was a message of good wishes for my first Ard Fheis as Taoiseach.
Will the Taoiseach agree that the correspondence has been published already under the Freedom of Information Act? I merely wish to inquire about the representations concerning the store size. In one of the pieces of correspondence Mr. Dunlop says he is aware of a decision the Government has just taken for 3,500 square foot being the limit. I take it that is the gross space? Can the Taoiseach throw light on how that came to the knowledge of Mr. Dunlop, given that it was not an announced decision? Will the Taoiseach confirm that Mr. Dunlop's reference in his correspondence with the Taoiseach to "Many thanks for your great help"– referring to the Taoiseach – refers only to pleasantries and he is not referring to any help the Taoiseach gave him, or is that the case?
Will the Taoiseach confirm if the final decision of the Government on this matter was identical to the original decision referred to by Mr. Dunlop in his letter to the Minister for the Environment and Local Government and his covering note to the Taoiseach, or was there a change between the two decisions in terms of the net versus the gross space?
I am not that familiar with the details of this issue, but I understand the Minister for the Environment and Local Government did not change his position on this matter. He rejected the representations made by many sources, including Mr. Dunlop.
Mr. Dunlop's note to me is a fax dated 4 June 1998, enclosing a note to the Minister for the Environment and Local Government regarding the capping of retail developments, but there was no change on that. I have no knowledge of how he would have had information on any of the facts. I accepted some of his invitations to perform official openings, including one for Merck Sharp and Dohme, which was a big occasion, and I also accepted one in respect of a renewal scheme in Roscommon when I was on tour there.
I know that place in Roscommon quite well. I visited it a week before the Taoiseach.
Will he confirm a point that might be useful to have confirmed? There is a distinction between the gross space of a shopping centre and net retail space and it has been suggested that the ultimate decision would have allowed a larger amount of net retail space than the original decision. Can the Taoiseach confirm there was no change in the decision in the period between Mr. Dunlop's representations and the ultimate confirmation of the decision? If he cannot confirm that now, he might do so at a later point.
I appreciate the question, but I would be less than honest if I told the Deputy I could confirm that. I will have it checked. As I recall, there was no change, but to be certain I would rather check it.
