Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is great. Of course these things take time. I remember when a bus leaving my parish took predominantly women to work in that Pretty Polly factory in the 1980s and 1990s. A week is a long time in politics but, at the same time, time goes pretty quickly too. It will take time. We have to be realistic but I have no doubt that when this project is completed, it will serve future generations very well, including workers and the overall industry. We make a massive effort across the board and across the community in Kerry in building our brand and keeping it strong. The Minister saw that at the ploughing championships. We are very proud of our county, as the Minister is of Glendalough and all the beautiful places in Wicklow.

We also have many challenges because we are geographically a peripheral county. For us, tourism is proportionately much more important. That is why the provision of skills and the preparation of people, predominantly young people, for a life in tourism and hospitality is very important. That is why this is such a symbolic and important project. It is such a huge part of our economy. I ask the Minister to do everything he can to keep this on the agenda and push it as hard as he can.

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