Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It was not possible for me to attend the Order of Business last week and I did not have the opportunity to express my deepest sympathy to Mrs. Bridie Fitzgerald and her family on the death of the late Senator Tom Fitzgerald. Tom was a particularly close friend of mine and a great adviser to me on the first occasion I stood for election to the Seanad. I was greatly indebted to him for the help he had given to me. We gave him a great send off in Dingle and I express my deepest sympathy to his wife and family.

It is nice to have a bit of good news on a Tuesday morning. I welcome the announcement at the weekend of the new rejuvenation project for Limerick city. I understand it will be a public private partnership project aimed at restoring Limerick to its rightful place as the retail centre for the mid-west region. It has the blessing, naturally, of the Minister for Finance and politicians of every hue and I wish it well. On the same day Foynes Harbour Board announced 150 jobs at a new energy plant on the docks at Foynes. As a director of the harbour board for 16 years, I note that this is something to which we have longed looked forward and it is wonderful to see it come to pass.

Approximately six months ago I had a matter on the Adjournment on the other major project awaited on the Shannon Estuary - the Shannon LNG gas terminal. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, attended to discuss the matter and was extremely positive, as has been his Cabinet colleague, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan. The Minister, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, indicated that there would be significant developments in the coming months. I suggest it is now timely for him to attend the House to provide a general outline on the issue of energy security and developments in Ireland, particularly in the mid-west.