Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is appropriate that the Minister of State, Deputy Kelleher, is taking this matter because some of my remarks pertain to his Department.

The world building of the year award, which was given for the first time this year, represents a major achievement. It is the equivalent of the Nobel prize. This is the first year in which it was awarded and it was won by a middle sized Irish architectural practice, Grafton Architects, of which Shelley McNamara and Yvonne Farrell are the two principals. Eight major architectural awards are awarded at present, six of which are given to individuals for lifetime achievements by institutes such as the RIBA in London. The remaining two awards are for specific buildings. The world building of the year award has the most rigorous and demanding criteria and adjudication process. Yvonne Farrell and Shelly McNamara are like Olympic gold medallists. That is the status and standing of their achievement. This should be publicly celebrated and recognised by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. In response to a parliamentary question I tabled, he advised that he had sent a private letter congratulating them, which is simply not sufficient.

We should use this achievement to promote Irish art and culture abroad and I will make some suggestions for consideration. Every Irish Embassy abroad should showcase it in collaboration with the various State agencies and the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. It would be a golden opportunity to showcase an achievement of excellence on a global scale by Irish architects. IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland should also promote it. Ireland has 4% of the global market for services, which is an incredible achievement. At present, those involved in the Irish construction industry must be encouraged to find work abroad owing to the downturn in our economy. For example, 30% of people employed in architectural practices have been given notice or made redundant in recent months and more will follow.

We need joined up thinking in Departments in this regard. The Departments involved are the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Arts, Sport and Tourism, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. A co-ordinated promotion and sales drive with the Construction Industry Federation and all of the building professions is now required. They should unashamedly use the excuse of the achievement of the award of world building of the year. They won in two categories. There are approximately five categories relating to building type and there is an overall award. In both cases they won that award. What has happened is well known across the world of architectural services and design.

I invite the Minister of State and his colleagues to be active and celebrate this achievement and to communicate, promote, export and sell our expertise globally. This is a unique opportunity to do so. There should be a public reception or other event to celebrate the achievement here. It is simply not sufficiently well known. If it was a sports or a literary achievement, it would be acknowledged in a much more profound and celebratory way than simply sending a private letter of congratulations.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy is aware that the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism has sent a letter offering his warmest congratulations to Yvonne Farrell and Shelly McNamara of Grafton Architects on winning the first building of the year award at the inaugural World Architecture Festival. The new faculty building for the Luigi Bocconi University in Milan, which they designed, is both stunning and truly inspiring. If I am ever in northern Italy I intend to visit it. Northern Spain has that famous landmark building in Bilbao that one associates with the city itself.

I take on board the views the Deputy has expressed regarding showcasing to promote Irish architecture and construction. While I am unsure about the dates, I understand that within the next two weeks the Tánaiste will travel to Dubai and Abu Dhabi with some construction firms to promote Irish companies abroad in the context of the challenging times we have domestically in the construction sector. The Deputy is correct in highlighting the large numbers of lay-offs of engineers and architects. These are highly skilled, educated and, obviously, well motivated people. We now need to look beyond our shores to find employment opportunities for these people.

I will convey the Deputy's views in the context of the achievement of Yvonne Farrell and Shelly McNamara. As he said, we should unashamedly use these awards not only to advance the nation, but also to give opportunities to young architects, engineers and others involved in the construction industry to break into the international market. However, this is a challenging time and unfortunately even though we are going abroad on trade missions, we are going to countries that are also suffering from the severe downturn internationally. If Ireland was alone in having internal challenges, it would be different. However, all countries have their own difficulties at this time. We need to continue to promote Ireland not only as a place for inward investment, but in challenging times we need to provide opportunities to Irish companies to go abroad and establish businesses there. We have recently built up considerable capacity and expertise in the construction sector which we could showcase abroad in the future.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Will the Minister of State raise the matter with IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, which are within his remit?

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will convey the Deputy's views to Enterprise Ireland which is the appropriate agency.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Minister of State.