Mr. Colm Mac Geehin:

We met the Minister and made our case very forcefully. We were clear that planning permission is conditional on his consent. If he refuses his consent the entire process collapses. It is surreal in its present state because the developers say they cannot and will not build anything because they do not have the money to develop a new Dundrum on top of the battlefield site. Encroaching on the site is integral to their plans. They say it is not entirely true that they are building on it but it is largely true. There will be a three-tier carpark with toilets underneath.

We have met everybody and members must be well rehearsed in the issues at this stage. When we met the leader of Fianna Fáil, Deputy Martin, he indicated that a committee chaired by the Taoiseach could resolve the problem. He cited the IFSC, a development which I do not greatly admire, and pointed out that it required a Taoiseach to drive the project with the assistance of a small committee. The Minister can be the starting point for reversing this ridiculous and unnecessary suburban shopping centre. We do not need it and it will not be built with this money. I do not know what the vulture capitalists will do when they get their hands on it but everybody in a position of authority should exhort the Minister to say "No". It would be a popular decision and, God knows, this Government needs to make some popular decisions.