John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not expect Mr. Sydenham to comment on this, but I am going to make the point. In 2016, the then Minister of State, Deputy Seán Canney, wrote to me on the Arts for Peace Foundation and Durrow Abbey. He welcomed the fact that he had written and proposed a meeting and that both parties were going to focus to mutually resolve the current impasse, recognising the issue faced by all and agreeing a way forward.

I met the then Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and some of the officials on two if not three occasions and I felt the issue was being moved forward in a positive way and that a resolution would be found. I am deeply disappointed that effort was not brought over the line. My feeling is that while there was reluctance on both sides to find a resolution, the greater reluctance was on the side of the OPW.

In spite of the papers being served, both the Minister of State and his officials know, that papers can be served and deals can be done even after that. Papers can be served at times, and I believe this is one of them, when the client on the other side is pushed to the point where if they do not serve the papers before a particular date, they lose. To protect their position, they serve the papers.

I believe that the Arts for Peace Foundation as a project is an excellent project. I have visited Durrow Abbey and looked at the building. It is in good shape and I think it should be in the ownership of the State as it was. I firmly believe that with an effort, with both sides sitting down without being tied by legal process and without prejudice, they could reach a resolution, rather than spend unnecessary funds and scarce resources on a case when in my opinion the Arts for Peace Foundation has a good case. Going to court is a step beyond common sense in my opinion in this instance.

I appeal to the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, to do as Deputy Canney did, and bring the client and the officials back to the table and make a last effort. It does not harm the court case. I have seen instances where this was done in commercial cases. I have seen it done through mediation. I have seen it done in my ways. I think the State has an obligation to protect Durrow Abbey, not to damage the Arts for Peace Foundation any further and to be careful with taxpayers' money.

I am asking the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, and the chairman at least to make some effort, without putting this case into question, to try to resolve it.