Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I welcome the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to the Chamber. I tabled this topical issue to try to get people to start thinking about the Bank of Ireland and the space between it and Trinity College. It was not necessarily that I did not expect the response to the request to organise a swop. I am keen to put out the idea. Earlier today, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport referred to the launch of the connection of the Luas lines.

Let us imagine College Green with a Luas line running through it, with Trinity College on one side and with a centre for arts and literature in the Central Bank. We could use the space of the old senate chamber for a regional assembly, as part of the reform of local government, to engage people back into local democracy in the greater Dublin area. The development of the area as a piazza as well as the areas referred to by the Minister of State would be good not only for Dublin but for the nation. It would give us a real positive centre. Let us imagine a Christmas market spread between Trinity College, Dame Street and the Central Bank with only the Luas line coming through it. It could be a cultural hub. We could celebrate the greats of our literature in the Central Bank or, for our great musicians, we could utilise the piazza with the backdrop of the Central Bank and its beautiful lighting.

Naturally, we are financially constrained but that should not rule out a vision at this stage for the city, about which I am passionate, as are many Members. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to see a transformation of the piazza in front of that building. When we run a Luas line through the area we should think of this generation and the next generation and a cultural hub for the city.

I understand the cost of joining up the Luas lines runs to €360 million. A small proportion of that could develop the whole piazza. Public opinion and pressure from the State could bring around the Bank of Ireland in some manner. It may not involve a building swop. Anyway, we need to keep a concentration on this area and bear in mind that there should be a social dividend from the banking sector to the citizens of Dublin and Ireland.

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