Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. The figures are not optimistic but we have moved on since 2006. Although the coffers are not as full as they appeared at that time, there is a new reality in the construction sector and people are getting major projects over the line for sums that are much more realistic than the figures received by the Minister at that time because of certain financial attitudes. Perhaps it may be the time to have another look at the potential project. The old argument we have is about where cost and benefit comes in when we try to promote rural Ireland, or in this case the mid-west and the west. Tourists coming to Ireland through Shannon provide enormous benefit when they go to Galway or Limerick, as opposed to renting a car and heading straight for Dublin. In the west we seem to be coming out at the wrong end of all this, with matters gravitating towards the east coast. I will not press the amendment but I may revisit it on Report Stage. Perhaps we could have a fresh look at those figures.