Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

I hope this project will not be long-fingered. The tone of the Minister's reply seems to indicate that the urgency associated with this project has abated. I am sure he is aware that Ireland is losing about €50 million every year because we do not have an international conference centre. Ireland is not even ranked among the leading conference destinations in Europe and Dublin is ranked only about twenty-fifth in that regard. When it comes to conferences, we are just not at the races. The debate on providing a national conference centre has been ongoing for approximately 15 years. Does the Minister agree that there is a need for urgency about the provision of such a centre? The Government's two main priorities in this area should be the national conference centre and the Abbey Theatre project, which I asked about in Question No. 29. The Minister, who is probably halfway through his term of office, should prioritise these projects. Will he assure the House and the tourism industry that there will be no further delays? Will a decision on the successful partner be taken before the end of the year?

See this speech in context