Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

I welcome this amendment, on foot of which the project approval deadline is to be extended. With regard to developing the River Shannon, there is a strong argument for extending the scheme to Limerick. The report of the Mid West Task Force, chaired by Mr. Denis Brosnan, recommended that the extension of the scheme be considered. The Minister can see the benefits of such a scheme for the Shannon region. The regeneration project falls into this category. It is a question of developing the Shannon region, attracting tourists thereto and providing the necessary infrastructure.

We all want proper cost-benefit analyses and tax incentive schemes, which are critical in certain cases. With regard to developing the Shannon region, I ask the Minister to take on board what Mr. Brosnan's report stated on extending the scheme down the Shannon into Limerick. I would like to hear her observations.

See this speech in context