Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

The centre is scheduled to open on 1 September 2010. Once it is open for business, the State will pay the company an annual charge. The maximum total cost over 25 years will be just under €380 million. That is net current value. An annual payment will be made that adds up to no more than €380 million at net current value. I do not know whether there is an additional handover fee. That would be a contractual matter and I will have to come back to the Deputy on it.

There is a commitment in the programme for Government to examine the feasibility of a conference centre in the Shannon region. I will move that forward as quickly as possible. The Ceann Comhairle does not need me to plámás him in any way, but we should all salute his work in delivering these projects. It will stand as one of many monuments to the man in this Department, where he did a tremendous job.

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