Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with you, Chairman. I know Senator Malcolm Byrne could not be here, but it is only fair to acknowledge the role he played in chairing the cross-party groups. I wanted to say that in his absence. One of the keys to success when we got stuck at various moments was the fact that most people did not play politics with this issue - no political party did - and I wish to acknowledge that. I also thank the officials who have been working on this for a long time. I thank John McDermott to my right and Fiona O'Byrne in the Department, who have been driving this. Of all the technological universities, this project has required the most time and assistance from my Department officials and me, but it was worth it and was important to do because we see this as vital for the south east. We see it as more than that, though. We see it as an important piece of national infrastructure. I think IDA Ireland, to name just one agency, would very much agree with that. I acknowledge and thank my officials in the Department for their at times painstaking work in getting to this point.