Mr. Michael Barrett:

I have certainly put a lot of my time into it over the past ten years since 2012. Regarding what it has cost me, as can be seen I have engaged environmental consultants and have been paying planners. It has cost me a lot of money. I could not tell the Deputy the exact sum. I think it would be in the region of €50,000 including costs for court cases, solicitors and so forth.

I am spending money to see if something can be done about unauthorised development. The unauthorised part of this development is generating in the region of €500,000 a year, potentially. I have with me the rates and tariffs in question. As members can see, it is stated that for any boat that is 40 ft or more, €2,900 a year must be paid. Members can do the maths. There is turnover of approximately €500,000 there on State property.

In the early part of this, when I was dealing with Westmeath County Council, a councillor who has since lost his seat was very sympathetic to me and did not fully agree with the unauthorised development. Several planning meetings were held between Westmeath County Council and the developers of the marina. The councillor who was sympathetic to my plea relating to the unauthorised development was not invited to any of those meetings. However, another councillor was invited and attended several of the meetings. Indeed, I have produced documentation to the committee today showing that he was invited or, at least, attended the meetings. I presume he was representing the Portaneena company because I do not think he was representing the council. That councillor, luckily for him, went on to be elected as a Deputy and went on to be a Minister in the previous Government. However, he lost his seat in the most recent election and, shortly thereafter, had an article in a national newspaper-----