Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I note over the weekend there was talk again about draining the Shannon, which is wonderful, but I would like to have a debate in the new year about the Shannon Estuary. I seek a wide comprehensive debate on the estuary and its pivotal role in the infrastructure of the mid-west region and especially its key role in the future of energy security in the country. I have raised this ad nauseam. Members are sick of me talking about it but we have had some of the most successful industries in the estuary, including the Aughinish Alumina plant in Foynes, the Tarbert power station and the Moneypoint power station but very little has happened in the past decade apart from a lot of talk and political promises from all sides. People are fairly sick of it now. There is a major project in the offing, of which the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, is very well aware. In fairness to him, he has taken a good interest in it and has received a number of delegations from the community, business interests and foreign investors on a liquified natural gas project, which I mentioned previously in the House. I ask the Leader to investigate the possibility of moving the issue forward in the House. It is something that would be of interest, in particular to Members from counties Galway, Clare, Kerry and Limerick - the entire mid-west. Something fruitful could emerge in the near future.