125 Mr. Morley asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the proposals, if any, he has made or intends to make to the Department of Finance to more fully utilise the potential of Knock International Airport for the development of industry and job creation in the west and north west regions where so many more job opportunities than are currently being provided are badly needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10111/97]

I have made no proposals to the Department of Finance in relation to Knock International Airport, and have no immediate plans to do so.

However, the industrial development agencies under my remit, such as Forbairt, IDA Ireland and the county enterprise boards, are regionally based so as to give an added impetus to the development of indigenous firms and attraction of overseas companies to regionally dispersed locations around the country. I have described in detail in this House in recent times the importance I and the Government attach to getting an equitable spread of new investments around the country.