Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Troy. I am a member of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution which is meeting next door so I will have to leave. I might not be able to stay for the responses but I will note them when I get them.

I warmly welcome Mr. McGarry and congratulate him on his appointment. I know a great deal about Shannon Foynes Port Company because, in one guise or another, I was a director on the River Shannon from the days of the old harbour commissioners up to when I was elected to the Seanad. I did that for 16 years so I am familiar with the company. The Shannon Foynes Port Company is very important infrastructure not just for the mid-west but for the nation. I have nothing but admiration for the work being done there by Mr. McGarry, his predecessor, the chief executive, Pat Keating, and the board members. It is a fantastic facility and a great working environment. It is not far from the Kerry border and many of my constituents have secured good, meaningful, long-term employment there. We always say that what is good for Foynes is good for Kerry.

The rail link between Limerick and Foynes is very important for the growth of the harbour. I wish Mr. McGarry well with that. I have a question about Foynes Island. I am out of touch now but it had been suggested that Foynes Island might be acquired by the port company to give it further potential. What is the position with that? Is there a possibility of movement on that, if the company does not have it already? It would be important to secure more space.

The other issue is the gas project. People in Kerry had been very hopeful about the liquefied natural gas, LNG, project for a long time but there has been some disappointing news of late. Foynes has a huge role to play in the provision of gas and ensuring our energy security into the future. Will Mr. McGarry comment on the current position of Foynes on that project and how he sees it growing in terms of a storage facility for gas into the future? I welcome the fact that there is now a gas supply line directly to Listowel, where I am from, from Foynes. The Kerry Group is very involved with that as well.

I wish Mr. McGarry well. The reports about him are very good. I will note his responses in the report of these proceedings. I must go to attend an important meeting of the other committee.