Denis Landy (Labour)

The main issue I wish to mention is that of community gain, the term used by the Minister and to which the report of the committee refers. We have not been good generally where an industry has affected communities. There was a programme on TG4 on ore mining in north Tipperary, around Nenagh, and the lakes of leachate and other materials left behind which have since destroyed the environment of the area. The community did not gain from that project. I am also thinking about the mining of coal in the Slieveardagh area, specifically around Ballingarry and the Commons, where communities were depleted of their resources and when the mine was closed, the communities never recovered. We have, however, a shining light in the area. While there is a lot of criticism in some areas of the pharmaceutical industry, my experience in County Tipperary is that the pharmaceutical companies have become involved in the community, not just through financial sponsorship but by becoming involved with community efforts, driving environmental projects and generally being of benefit to the community. Will the Minister tell us how he sees this issue progressing and how the petroleum and other offshore industries can help out in this regard?

I have had some contact with people involved with the liquid gas project in Tarbert. To the best of my knowledge, the project is ongoing and the Minister inherited it. There is great potential for job creation and I would like to think there is also an opportunity for community gain. Something, however, is blocking the project. We are talking about the report today, but I would appreciate it if the Minister commented on this project also.