Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

I accept the Acting Chairman's point but I will return to this subject.

Barack Obama had a dream and his dream is fulfilled. People in Bantry had a dream also. I want to read into the record a press release that appeared in The Cork Examiner in January 1985. I was a mere garsún then. That was the year I first got elected to Cork County Council. It was written by an eminent reporter with The Cork Examiner who would have been familiar with Bantry for many years, the late Jim Cluskey, God be good to him. I want to quote the article because it is about the dream for Bantry and the fact that there has been no consultation. It states:

A Consultant engineer, who is one of the country's top experts in marine construction, was yesterday enthusiastic about the results of initial tests that could lead to a major development in Bantry's inner harbour.

Mr. Derry Nestor [whom I do not know] of Cork — who masterminded the Neptune Sports Centre — said that trial holes dug yesterday showed that rock would not be encountered.

This was to do with a proposal for which we got money for the pier and harbour but nothing happened. The article further states: "This meant, he said, that the shape of the inner pool could be moulded simply by removing material." That is the dredging we spoke about, and again there has been no consultation because Cork Port will come in and dredge it overnight. It further states:

The situation would also facilitate the building of a sea wall, the length of which would be governed only by cost.

An ad hoc committee has been set up in Bantry with the aim of creating a yachting marina and creating a flood control system for Bantry town.

That has been sorted out because the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government did works there on the flood control system. It further states:

It would also, according to Committee Chairman, Mr. Bill O'Donnell——

God be good to him. He is still going strong. He is a great character who had a dream for Bantry. He was involved in the harbour area all his life and I hope he will live to see this project fulfilled.

——destroy the eyesore that has been around this community for 140 years — seven-and-a-half acres of grey slobland.

Speaking of the estimated cost of £1 1/4m for the project, Committee Press Secretary, Ms. Grainne O'Mahony, was confident that the money was available "and it was just a question of tapping it".

Money was promised following the Betelgeuse disaster but one could say there was a lack of interest in Bantry. It further states:

There were, she said, categories of EEC funding for such projects and they would also be hoping for a share of the £1m which the Chevron Oil Co., which has taken over Gulf Oil [I forgot about Chevron; I spoke about Gulf earlier] had pledged to the Government for the development of Bantry Bay.

We are back to the question of there being no consultation. Where did that £1 million go? It would have done a great deal in 1985. Bantry did not benefit from any of it. I remind the House that a golf course was sorted out in Bandon, which is 40 miles away. They know nothing about it. A golf course was done in Castletownbere but not one cent was spent in Bantry Harbour. That is a disgrace, regardless of who was in charge of it. To be fair, they know nothing about consultation or a lack of it. We got kicked in the arse and kicked in the teeth all my lifetime. These were the issues that were relevant at the time. We come in here and talk about consultation. I am saying clearly there has not been consultation. I digress somewhat but——