Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. It is welcome that he expects the Department to seek expressions of interest by the end of the year and that a decision will be made on the location of a national Diaspora centre by the middle of next year. Limerick will be the City of Culture in 2014 and is ideally located, with Shannon Airport on its doorstep. The fact that a formidable joint bid is being made by the Limerick local authorities and the Shannon Airport Authority augurs well. Furthermore, this is about bringing tourists to Ireland. The fact that Limerick will be the City of Culture in 2014 makes this an ideal legacy project for the city and would showcase it for Ireland Inc. What does the Minister envisage will be required of those submitting expressions of interest? How will the Department's specific requirements be relayed to the various bodies involved?

See this speech in context