New law grants power to screen and halt foreign investments

Investments by non-EU companies in infrastructure such as health services, ports, and airports will require ministerial approval

Leo Varadkar: 'This new law is to give us the power to intervene if a non-EU actor is seeking to make an investment which would threaten our security or public order.' Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

New legislation is to be introduced that will allow the Government to screen foreign direct investments (FDIs) from non-EU countries.

The new law will allow the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to evaluate whether an investment poses a threat to Ireland’s security or public order and provide the powers to put a halt to such investment.