Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have two brief questions on section A. The Moore Street case is being undertaken with the approval of the Attorney General's office. The tradition has been that if somebody sues the State and the State supports defending the case, normally the money is made available whenever, and if ever, costs arise to deal with the issue. It is not usually taken from an ordinary budget. It is normally provided for if and when it arises. It is very much a question of if and when, and it might never arise.

On the second point, I remember years ago the issue of the repair of the Jeanie Johnston came up. We had already spent €13 million but another million euro was needed. I was of the view that there was no point in having a tall ship down in Tralee, County Kerry that was that four fifths finished. One might as well finish the work at that stage. It was a case of in for a penny, in for a pound and complete the project.

I have to say, not because it happens to be in Galway, that the Solas Galway Picture Palace project cannot be left as it is. Subject to good governance, I fully support the concept that we might as well put in the extra few bob and finish off the project, making it what it is meant to be, a live theatre in Galway, rather than pulling the plug at this stage. That is my very strong view and I support the Minister's view. I call that type of scenario a Jeanie Johnston because I remember some highly educated people felt we should have left the Jeanie Johnstonin the condition it was in, following the expenditure of €13 million, and not continue to restore it at a cost of €14 million in total. If that decision had been made, I would have thought it most bizarre, but thankfully the decision was made at that time to finish the project.