Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I apologise, Deputy Charles Flanagan. That might have been a forecast.

In any event, these are tough times in politics. Another extraordinary point is that a great deal of the heavy lifting has been done. In fairness to the Government, it has carried out the Brian Lenihan blueprint for recovery almost to the letter and this has been successful. However, now that this is out of the way, members of the Government appear to be playing silly buggers with one other. The Labour Party is playing silly buggers internally and one side is leaking against the other to the media on a regular basis. That is as it may be.

It is a quiet day and I will bring up a matter I have raised several times previously, namely, the Shannon liquified natural gas, LNG, project in north County Kerry. The Deputy Leader has listened to me speak on this subject previously but she might relay this point to the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, one more time. This is a project of huge importance for the economy of the mid-west, for economic security and, in particular, for the area around Ballylongford, which has been greatly depopulated due to emigration and lack of employment. This project will guarantee 500 jobs at construction stage and up to 100 permanent jobs thereafter. I was Mayor of Kerry County Council in 2004 when the genesis of this project took place but yet many years later, not a single hole has been dug in the ground. I believe much of this has to do with intransigence and that were this project located somewhere inside the Pale, perhaps in Poolbeg, the Fingal area of Dublin or somewhere like that, there would have been a great deal more engagement and focus on it. I again appeal to the Deputy Leader to take up the matter with the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte. He might come into the House to give Members a revised overview on what he thinks is happening with the project.