Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To return to the issue of national park status, in terms of size, County Cork represents one eighth of the country, yet it has no national park. There is a huge, amazing landscape right along the valley, whether it is Gougane Barra or globally known places such as Blarney Castle further down the valley, and there is no national park anywhere in this large area. That surely strengthens the case for the general Cork area to have a national park, especially when we have a place of such quality and status as the Gearagh. The Minister of State indicated that it is an SAC and enjoys certain status and outlined the efforts to enhance its status. The possibility of having a national park in the area needs to be examined.

See this speech in context