Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2020
88. Deputy Malcolm Noonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason a company (details supplied) did not receive a grant from Enterprise Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41333/20]
View answerAgriBioTech Partners trading as Floreo Botanicals have been engaging with their Local Enterprise Office in Offaly. I also understand that Floreo Botanicals is a Botanicals Company and they use many plants in their products including Flax, Nettle, German Chamomile and Hemp.
Hemp is a cannabis-based product and for the purposes of Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Office support, companies using cannabis-based products cannot be approved for grants to businesses.
The policy is based on legislation, that products containing any trace of THC are considered as a controlled drug in Ireland under the Misuse of Drugs Orders. Currently there is no lower limit of THC permissible under national legislation. The Local Enterprise Offices are not in a position to verify which companies, products and extraction methods meet the legal requirements in Ireland to contain 0.00% and this poses a reputational risk to Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices.
