Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I agree with the Deputy who knows that I met a delegation of which I think he was part, when Councillor Fitzpatrick brought a group to me. I accept that there is a problem but neither I nor any Minister of the day could legislate nationally for one stadium. The issue arises in Thurles and other grounds throughout the country. We must therefore consider it comprehensively. It is with the Office of the Attorney General. My officials and officials in his office have been working on this. I did not want to proceed with the public consultation process without some legal basis for what we should do, and then fit a policy objective into it. I am anxious to get a result quickly and set up a public consultation process because there are many different views that people want to express on this.

I know Croke Park and go there regularly, not that Waterford reaches many finals but we have at least got as far as some all-Ireland semi-finals in recent years. It is difficult for the residents in the area as in other places. As soon as I get a response on the area with which I can deal, I will hold a public consultation process. I will place a time limit on that which will be helpful to everybody.

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