97.— The following section is inserted after section 9 of the Industrial Development Act 1993:

“Validation of assignment of powers and functions.

9A.— (1) In this section ‘relevant assignment’ means the assignment by Forfás with the approval of the Minister on 26 May 2006 under section 9(2) to the Industrial Development Agency (Ireland), Enterprise Ireland and Shannon Free Airport Development Company Limited of the power to make employment grants under section 25 of the Industrial Development Act 1986.

(2) The relevant assignment shall be deemed to have come into operation on 25 July 2003.

(3) Nothing in this section shall affect any proceedings commenced in any court concerning the making of an employment grant under section 25 of the Industrial Development Act 1986 where those proceedings were commenced before 1 February 2007.”.