Thank you, Sir, for allowing me raise this matter. I will not delay the House for very long. The Minister is aware of the facts. The Government here and the IDA approved an application that they received for the development of a processing plant in Ardee, an investment of about £70 million. Three hundred jobs would initially be provided in the town and surrounding areas where many other jobs were promised by major potential employers but which did not materialise.
There are, in total, 200 farmers signed up for the processing, some at an advanced stage in the building of houses for producing a product for the factory. Many of these farmers require this alternative enterprise. I wonder what has happened taking into consideration (a) that the IDA approved this development, (b) that the Government gave it the go ahead and (c) that it went to Brussels where the majority of applications for FEOGA grants are accepted once Government approval has been obtained here. I want to know why we have not had full Government support for the project to ensure that this application was approved for the sake of the job potential and the farming potential. In real terms we are talking about 1,000 jobs in total connected with this application.
Have there been other influences on the Government here from other organisations in the business we are talking about putting pressure on Government not to go ahead with this application? This has been a year in Brussels. I would like the Minister to allay fears. Is there a possibility that it could be reinvestigated and that the Government will approve it and seek approval in Brussels?