Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is right that the initiatives he referred to are all really positive. Investing in the old Ambassador Theatre building and reopening the Iveagh Markets would be really beneficial to Dublin. Those are the kinds of projects the task force is considering. The task force has already met. It has 12 weeks to report to the Government. When we receive the report, we certainly will look at its recommendations. The task force was led by the Department of the Taoiseach. As such, it will be up to the Taoiseach to consider the recommendations and take them on board. However, a whole-of-government approach will be required, including the Department of Justice and my Department from an enterprise and retail perspective.

I fully agree with the Deputy's point regarding footfall in Dublin city centre. I have had a lot of meetings with retailers based in Dublin city centre. Changed working patterns, including people working from home and engaging in hybrid working, have had an impact. We need to ensure Dublin is an even more attractive place to live and work in, and to visit, in order to negate the impact of changed behaviours.

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