Vol. 400 No. 3
2 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason he has not released the report commissioned by him in relation to the collapse of Ballybay Meat Products Ltd., Ballybay, County Monaghan; if it is his intention to make the findings public; if there are genuine purchasers for the plant; and when he expects it to reopen.
34 Mr. Cotter asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the steps he has taken to reopen the Ballybay Meats factory, County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
55 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in relation to his comments at the opening of the Spring Show, he has received his Department's report on the closure of Ballybay Meats; if it is intended to publish this report; if he has met with the receiver, pig suppliers and other interested parties to discuss the future of the plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2, 34 and 55 together.
I received a report from my Department and a report from the IDA last March in relation to those aspects of the Ballybay closure which come within their respective responsibilities. These aspects are being further progressed and I will receive an updated report in due course. As already indicated to the House, I do not intend to publish the report because of the confidential nature of my Department's dealings with individual companies.
The EC Commission has been notified by my Department of the position in relation to the plant and is currently carrying out an examination of the matter in consultation with officials of my Department. From consultations which I and officials of my Department have had with the receiver regarding developments in the matter, I understand that agreement has been reached between the receiver and the farmers on their retention of title claim.
The question of the future of the plant is primarily a matter for the receiver and something over which I have no direct responsibility. However, the receiver is continuing in his efforts to sell the plant and is hopeful of an early conclusion.
Having regard to the fact that a substantial amount of taxpayers funds, to the value of between £1 million and £2 million — we never got the official figure — has been invested in this company, is it fair and proper that this House should not be informed of where this money went? Furthermore, can the Minister tell us why it is taking the liquidator so much time to find a purchaser or is it the case, as many people in that area genuinely believe, that no purchaser can be found, that that factory may never reopen, or if it does it may reopen in the ownership of some of those involved at an earlier date?
Let us be brief, relevant and succinct.
Perhaps the Minister would let us know where the money went.
Let me correct the Deputy. We are not, as the Deputy has said, dealing with a liquidator but rather with a receiver who performs a different role. This is a matter for the receiver alone. I have no authority to examine the bids or offers made for the assets. Therefore we should not confuse the issue by demanding something which this House is not entitled to. I understand from the receiver that he is continuing his efforts to sell the plant and is hopeful of an early conclusion.
Who is going to inform the taxpayers of where the Industrial Development Authority's contribution to that factory went? Where did the £1 million go to?
The global figure will be made available but, as the Deputy is aware, it is the long-established practice, which has been followed by all Governments and adhered to by all Ministers, not to disclose the details of bids from individual companies; otherwise those companies who are considering investing in this country would be given no guarantee that their individual personal affairs would not be made public. This is the reason why my predecessor, Deputy Deasy, whom the Deputy should know, and his predecessor always adhered to this practice. I am doing the same.
May I ask a final supplementary?
A final supplementary.
Is that a dangerous precedent? We will never know who is to be held accountable.
I can assure the Deputy that no dangerous precedent will be set. The precedent was not set by me.
Tell us where it went?
I am following the established precedent.
The Minister is sidestepping the issue.
