Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This project has been foisted on the OPW and the National Concert Hall. The Iveagh Gardens are an extremely important part of our heritage. The location functions as a lung in the city of Dublin and it must be protected. This is the thin edge of the wedge. As I said, this project was foisted on the National Concert Hall. Three Departments have grant funded the project but they have left the National Concert Hall and the OPW holding the baby. The OPW will build the structure but it will not assess the viability of the project. It has stated this fact. We do not know if the viability has been assessed. Neither do we know who is going to assess the viability of this project.

This is a remarkable story, with absolutely zero transparency. Why do we need another science museum? We already have one just 10 km or 11 km from here. The ICML charity needs to answer these questions. It seems to be like a secret organisation, to be honest. It has an office in the National Concert Hall. Who gives it that office? Is it paying rent? What are the conditions in this regard?

This project would have a devastating impact on the Iveagh Gardens, which have been protected so far. We must, though, be vigilant about it. There is no strong case for this science museum. If there is one, I would like to hear what it is. We must do everything we can to save the Iveagh Gardens because it is a beautiful space. More than 46,000 people signed a petition calling for the Iveagh Gardens to be protected and this project to be ended. I call on the Minister of State to get some answers for the people who are outraged by the damage that will be done to the Iveagh Gardens. People from right across the city use the space daily. It is also used for various events. It is something we need to protect.

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