Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I want the Minister of State to explain to the people of Cork what the story is with the event centre, for which we have been waiting 1,000 days. The Minister of State's former leader, the then Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, was pictured on the front page of the newspapers with a shovel turning the sod for the event centre. It is 1,000 days later and not a single brick has been laid on that site. It is a disgrace. The Tánaiste, Deputy Coveney, was out front with his picture in the newspapers. It was an election stunt during the general election of 2016. The people of Cork need, deserve and want that event centre and they want to know the story.

The Tánaiste was on the front pages of the newspapers again the other day stating that meetings were taking place here, there and everywhere. I am sure meetings are taking place left, right and centre. What are the meetings discussing? They are discussing putting more taxpayers' money, more State money, towards the project and the big corporate interests behind this project. Originally, there was talk of €20 million and then an extra €10 million was being looked at. I understand there is also an extra €10 million for public realm funding. That is €40 million out of a €75 million to €80 million project. Half of the money is coming from the State.

The centre would have been open by now if it had been built by the State as a public project. That is what should have happened from day one. What is the story? The people are watching and they want to know. They are sick and tired of these excuses from the Tánaiste. Let us have some real news today.

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