Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There will be no change in the status of Waterford city and Deputy Halligan will have his mayor. I know the Deputy is not a public representative who would be articulating what others are saying but there are local representatives who got off to a bad start in regard to clarifying those issues. I am glad to clarify them now for Deputy Halligan. As a distinguished former mayor of Waterford city, I know he will be anxious to keep the traditions, the history and the status of Waterford city, and that will happen.

It is not the intention of anybody to demote any place, particularly Waterford. This is done for the benefit of driving a gateway city much better than it is going today. There is a decline in every party of the country because of the economic downturn but we cannot ignore the fact we need a cohesive economic plan in order to drive Waterford city, to make it a meaningful gateway for the south east and to have it the capital of the region. That is what I intend to do, with the Deputy's help and that of the public representatives in Waterford and the region.

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