Vol. 536 No. 1
56 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if, regarding property purchased by a company (details supplied) in County Limerick, the consent of the Government's contracts committee was sought; if the purchase was approved by him and by the Department of Finance; the person or company who valued the property; the purchase price of the property, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13478/01]
57 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if property sold by a company (details supplied) was brought before the purchase was approved by the Government's contracts committee, by him and by the Department of Finance; the person or company who valued the property; its sale value, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13479/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 57 together.
As the Deputy is aware, section 15 of the Harbours Act, 1996, makes provisions with respect to sale, leasing and acquisition of land for commercial State port companies. Section 15 of the Act provides that a decision by a company to acquire or to dispose of any of its land shall only be made by the directors of the company; that the consideration for which any land is sold by a company shall, in so far as is practicable, not be less than its open market value; that a company shall have regard to Government guidelines in relation to the acquisition of land by State enterprises; and that any acquisition will be the subject of an independent valuation.
The decisions to acquire and dispose of the said properties were taken through the board, in accordance with section 15 of the Harbours Act, 1996, having regard to Government guidelines which are extant, on foot of independent valuations and are minuted accordingly. The consent of the Government's contracts committee is not required for the sale or acquisition of property by commercial State port companies and therefore was not sought. Valuations were obtained for both transactions and the amounts involved were in accordance with the valuations. I am taking advice on the propriety of providing the further information sought and I will communicate further with the Deputy.
