Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to hear the Minister acknowledge that the company has restructured its business, cut its costs and is seeking alternative income streams. I have referred to cruise liners. We would like to receive support in Dún Laoghaire to work with the council, the business improvement district scheme and the harbour board. I have mentioned that the cruise liners are important, but also of importance are the detailed proposals submitted to the Government for an international diaspora centre. This world-class visitor attraction could be accommodated in the empty 80,000 sq. ft. ferry terminal building. Owing to the decision of Stena Line this morning, the building will be available immediately and the proposal makes commercial sense. I have heard other venues being proposed, but I call on the Minister to give serious consideration to the situation in Dún Laoghaire where in the past Irish people left in their droves to seek work on foreign shores. Let their sons, daughters, grandsons and granddaughters return to our shores and be given a céad míle fáilte in a world-class diaspora centre in Dún Laoghaire. These new ventures, the cruise liner business and the diaspora centre, coupled with the task force, would help in some way to mitigate the great disappointment felt in Dún Laoghaire today.

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