Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. Táim buioch di as mé a roghnú chun ceist a chur. She might indulge me for a few seconds as I take the opportunity to express my personal sympathies on the death of His Highness Prince Karim, the Aga Khan, who was a major investor in this country over many decades. He was the owner of many stud farms, he invested heavily in the bloodstock sector and generated much employment. He was a true altruist and peace promoter, and one of the most significant philanthropists I ever had the privilege of meeting in this world. I suggest the House joins with me in expressing sympathy to his family and the Ismaili Muslim community that he led.

He loved running on the Curragh. It is about the Curragh that I wish to put my question. Page 57 of the programme for Government commits the Government to a conservation plan and new management system for the Curragh. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy Martin Heydon, was most instrumental in ensuring that provision in the programme for Government. It is absolutely essential that it is actioned now. Year after year, we have seen incursions onto the Curragh where it has become a vast illegal holiday campsite. The cost of rehabilitating the place last year was €185,000, which is half the cost of our famous bike shed. It was a humiliation to me that I could do nothing to get the State agencies to resolve the problem. It must have embarrassed the Tánaiste that he could not. What is the timescale for the implementation of action so that we will not have incursions again this year?

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