Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)

Whether in the short or long term, I hope the Minister will push forward with the proposal to put the Bank of Ireland premises in College Green, Dublin, back where it belongs, which is with the people. I also hope that the whole area of College Green can be pedestrianised so that people can take back a bit of the city. Other cities like Barcelona, London, Amsterdam and Brussels have areas where one can sit down and relax without traffic noise blowing one out of it at every turn. There is a fantastic collection of buildings in College Green with brilliant views, but it is a shame that one never gets the chance to enjoy them. My main feeling when I am standing there is not to look at the wonderful architecture or the city that surrounds us; it is to get out of there as quickly as possible because I am either going to be run over or go deaf from the noise. It would be brilliant if the Minister could push forward with this. This will discommode some people but we get discommoded in rural Ireland as well and we try to deal with it. It would be brilliant if something like this happens and the Minister can push for it.

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