Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)

I thank Deputy Broughan for giving me the opportunity to speak for a few minutes on this. I spoke on the digital hub Bill when it was going through the House and was very enthusiastic about it at that time. I represent the constituency where it is located and clearly I had a particular interest that everything about it would be successful and productive.

It is with great regret that almost five years later — because this was opened in July 2000, the taxpayer, unfortunately being €35 million worse off — we see it coming to an end or at least this part of it.

In late 2004 the Minister flagged a number of concerns about it. Among them was the need for a greater focus on research interests in it, that there was need for better links to Irish universities, that stricter financial control and a limit on financial exposure was required and that improved corporate governance and management was important. All of these issues did not arise overnight. I wonder why they were not identified sooner, why there was not some action taken on them and why we had to wait until there was so much money wasted effectively.

I see this as a mini "Bertie Bowl". It was one of his great flagship projects and one that has flopped. The major concern has to be for those people whose jobs have been lost because of the failure of this project and for the area, that there will be something to replace that tenant in the digital hub area and to take over the responsibilities and roles albeit in a different form and with some new project. It is very important that the area is sustained, that the jobs are sustained and that account will be taken of the people who have suffered from this. As my colleague has said a full report on this is important and should be brought before this House.

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