John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

The procurement of the national conference centre is a particularly complex and lengthy undertaking. While I hope to take the matter to the Cabinet for a decision later in the year, I cannot rule out the possibility that deliberations and negotiations will continue into next year. I assure Deputy Deenihan that I am fully committed to delivering the project at the earliest possible opportunity, subject to the acceptance of proposals.

It is true that conference business is being lost to Ireland. Fáilte Ireland estimates that approximately 120,000 people come to this country, mainly to Dublin, to participate in conferences each year. The construction of a dedicated conference centre would lead to an increase in the figure to at least 150,000. Many cities that have dedicated conference centres have been visited on many occasions by certain organisations that would like a change. We could expect a high level of business in the centre's first ten years of operations. It is immensely important that we provide a dedicated conference centre. I regard it as a priority.

I would like to make progress with the Abbey Theatre project this year so that those involved with the theatre can be told where they stand. We should also consider the development of a new national concert hall. I have said on a number of occasions that the current generation of Irish people is one of the most imaginative and creative generations there has been. None of that creativity or imagination has yet been given expression in our public architecture.

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