John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

I have given Deputy Wall my Department's perspective. However, a group of councillors operating through the local area committee does not agree with this and they have intimated that they will seek to have the house and the terrace on which it stands listed. Of course, their efforts so far have been unsuccessful, as the council heritage architect agreed the house was not of sufficient heritage value to be listed.

The council legal executive has taken legal advice on the matter and advised the councillors concerned that they should have the backing of a technical architectural statement before continuing. This group has now asked the executive to commission An Taisce and the Civic Trust to carry out another heritage study and I understand that Dublin City Council is due to respond to this matter on or before Monday next.

It is not for me to comment on all of these matters other than to say that we are just trying to build a world-class stadium at Lansdowne Road. It seems there are people who, for one reason or another, are seeking to prevent that happening. They should carefully consider the alternative again. The alternative is a concrete jungle, which is what will go into Lansdowne Road if the stadium does not go in. Many of the people actively pursuing objections today may well be sorry in the future that they did not listen now.

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