John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

There is no lack of urgency. We have been having complex negotiations with the relevant parties. There are a number of issues involved, and when we have dealt with these, there is the whole question of the cost of the site and the cost of the reconstruction, both of which must be funded by the Exchequer. I hope we can reach a resolution in the talks, which are ongoing, and produce a memorandum for Government in the not too distant future. The talks are necessarily complex, which is not my fault. We recognise the need for a new national concert hall and we are trying to advance the project as quickly as possible.

See this speech in context