Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As we all say, Covid has changed everything and has been the great disrupter. Many people are moving around and changing their work patterns, through working remotely and so on. I have never seen so many people moving home to my own county. In the context of spatial planning changing, and with Covid having had such a disrupting effect, what is the Minister's personal position on the 170 km Shannon water pipeline?

I listened to an interview the Minister did not so long ago. What he said in that interview was very interesting. This is going through public consultation at the moment and he acknowledged everything had changed fundamentally. He made some interesting comments on how we should plan for the future, economically, environmentally and spatially. Given that this is now under public consultation, is it the view of the Minister that this is necessary or should we consider other options, in particular as regards how we plan our country?

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