Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Many of the detractors of this House often say it is a talking shop in which nothing ever gets done, that we raise issues on the Order of Business which disappear into the dim and distant future. I want to instance a development yesterday which proves the worth of the House, and I thank the Members involved. During the past 12 months I have raised in the House and at the Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht the condition of our National Library. As part of a delegation from the committee, I visited the National Library and saw the poor conditions in which our national archives were kept. Yesterday, following representations we made in the House through the Leader and through the committee, the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, announced €10 million for the refurbishment and upgrade of the National Library.The money will be used to upgrade the visitor reading area, improve conditions in the archive and improve access and security as well as accessibility between the various buildings owned by the National Library on Kildare Street.

The Government recognised that work was required on the National Library of Ireland. The Minister informed the House that she would provide funding for such work when the economy improved. She fulfilled her promise yesterday when she announced a capital investment of €10 million in the National Library. Having raised the issue in the House, Senators can now see the results. I commend the Minister and thank the Leader for his perseverance on this issue in the past 12 or 18 months. I am proud to have played a part in securing the National Archives and National Library for future generations.