Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister to the Chamber to take this issue, which deals with his area. Half an hour ago, I received a text message that the Minister was coming to the House to make an important statement. I wondered if it was possible that I had struck gold and that there were might be an announcement with which I could run to Radio Kerry.

The LNG project in Ballylongford is critical to the State because it will ensure energy security, critical for my region of North Kerry Limerick West because it will provide 500 jobs during the construction stage and secure jobs in the future in an area crying out for work. The Minister is aware of this because he updated me during recent debates. There is new concern in the constituency because of the announcement by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, about Shannon Airport. We welcome the announcement because Shannon Airport is very important for the mid-west but the downside is the lack of clarity on the apportioning of functions between State agencies such as Shannon Development, the IDA and Enterprise Ireland. The people of north Kerry have had a very bad experience with the IDA. The Minister's Cabinet colleague, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, described the performance of the IDA as disgraceful. The project will now move into the hands of the IDA. The Minister cannot be answerable for this but it is a new worry.

The project has full support across the spectrum of politics across the county. The Minister's party colleague, Deputy Spring, Deputy Ferris and I are working as a team and this. Perhaps the Minister can enlighten us further. There was an issue with the interconnector and perhaps the Minister can tell us if it has been resolved. He should be on top of this and remain proactive because this project is great for the country. However, many of us feel it could be in danger of slipping away because of the lack of progress. It was initiated in the year I was mayor of Kerry, 2004, and has gone on in fits and starts since.

The promoters of the project, Shannon LNG, are a subsidiary of an American multinational corporation called Hess and it has expended millions of euro to date and planning and other issues. It has the total support of the community apart from a small group. The business community, the villages and the development associations are in favour of this. The way is clear and I hope the Minister can bring us news and show us the way forward.