Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I, too, congratulate Deputy Martin Mansergh on his appointment as Minister of State in charge of the Office of Public Works. I look forward to working alongside him.

A landmark cultural centre is what we want for the Abbey Theatre. I agree with fellow Senators that the best place for it by a mile is O'Connell Street. Everyone in Ireland knows how to get to O'Connell Street and the people feel comfortable coming there. One can mention all the other grandiose places in Dublin and people will tell you that they must go to them because they sound nice, but they never go because we all are creatures of habit.

The number one location must be O'Connell Street and the Government owes it to the Parnell Square area, where very little, except the Hugh Lane Gallery, has been built over the past 50 years. I recall that when Government brought in a capital allowance scheme for Parnell Square, not one block was put on top of another in Parnell Square East during that seven year period. Something serious must be done.

Given that we will have the transport question answered at both ends of O'Connell Street, and if it is at all possible, surely the €1.25 billion project being discussed for the Carlton cinema site on O'Connell Street must include a cultural centre. Why not have the Abbey Theatre located there? We want the likes of an Albert Hall or Sydney Opera House in O'Connell Street. We do not want to hide it in any old place in Ireland. We want to have somewhere of which we can be proud.

Given my considerable experience in the entertainment world, the most important part of the Minister of State's speech was when he said a theatre consultant and acoustic consultant have been appointed to the team. How many magnificent projects have been a disaster when it comes to the control of sound because an acoustic consultant was not appointed initially? I congratulate everyone associated with it. We could not have better people than the Office of Public Works handling the project.

The proposal to put it anywhere other than O'Connell Street is not giving the best opportunity. I know what happened in some of the other areas in which those who owned the establishments got greedy, but surely this can become part of the planning process before Dublin City Council. Dublin City Council has some of the most committed and dedicated people in the world working for it. They are doing a magnificent job in the interests of the people of Ireland and the capital city.

As someone from Castlepollard, I acknowledge the contribution of the Pakenham family to the Gate Theatre, especially the late Edward Pakenham and his wife. I was born next door to their estate and the Minister of State knows of this family. I know what the family did for the Gate Theatre in very difficulties times. They collected pennies to keep the theatre open.

Much has been done to keep the culture experiences of the Abbey Theatre, the Gate Theatre and the Peacock Theatre alive. People have worked day and night to keep the doors open. This is a tremendous challenge and a great opportunity and we have the right Minister of State in the right place and at the right time.