Mr. John McMahon:

We have taken on apprentices in all the skills and are trying to direct our apprenticeships at some of the less common skills such as the heritage-based skills. That type of work would include work on the gates. We have taken on some apprentices in the metalwork area. The gates in the Phoenix Park represent a significant job.

The Deputy mentioned repainting. This is not just about repainting the gates; it involves refurbishment and, in some cases, reconstruction. The gates suffered as a result of being taken down in 1979 and put back up again. A proper job was not done then. I cannot say why but it was not done.

We were obliged to obtain a licence from Dublin City Council in order to hold the event. This was not required in 1979. Part of the conditionality around the 2018 event licence for the Pope's mass was that we would refurbish the gates properly. We are complying with that condition but we wanted to do it in any event.