Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

If he is having difficulty we will get glasses for him so he can catch up with the rest of us.

As Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government I initiated the national spatial strategy with the full support of the then Government to ensure the benefits of economic prosperity were delivered to every corner of Ireland. That Government and its successors, including today's, is still committed to that strategy which sees Limerick-Shannon as one of the nine gateways which is benefiting from substantial investment under the national development plan in physical infrastructure, social infrastructure, health care and social inclusion measures. This and previous Fianna Fáil led Governments have committed themselves to ensuring that Limerick-Shannon, as Ireland's largest urban area after Dublin and Cork, is a key economic driver for the mid-west region. This and previous Fianna Fáil led Governments have created the Atlantic gateways concept covering cities from Waterford to Cork and Galway to ensure a counter point to the Dublin area, all of which was opposed by Deputies opposite.

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