Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2024
248. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if the 471 high-quality apartments at a location (details supplied) which are identified as being available on the basis of first refusal to Ireland's bid for the Anti-Money Laundering Authority, will still be available to the State on that basis. [12496/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department was never in negotiation with any of the developers during the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) bid application process and no commercial or residential property was off the market during the application for AMLA.
As part of the EU Commission application form for the AMLA, each Member State seeking to host AMLA was required to identify suitable premises as a headquarters for the new institution. In Ireland's case, the OPW identified a number of properties based on the criteria supplied and two were included in the final application. In relation to one of the developments identified, the Irish bid noted that the there were residential units included as part of the overall development complex.
Had the Irish bid been successful, then it would have been up to the EU Commission Task Force, that has been established in relation to the setting up of AMLA, to assess the various property options identified in the wining bid and for them to decide on a suitable building for AMLA.
