Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I commend the OPW on the work that it has done to open up the lands and restore many of the landscape features, particularly the historic network of pathways across the State, as mentioned by the Minister of State. There has also been a concerted effort, as stated by the Minister of State, to manage the estate from a biodiversity perspective. I would like to place on the record my gratitude for that most important work.

Does the Minister of State accept that the long-term solution is to reunite the lands? One would expect getting the chequebook out would be the difficult part but the Office of Public Works has said that it is willing to buy it at a fair price at market value. That is the long-term permanent solution. Of course short-term remedies must be delivered as soon as possible but the long-term solution is a fantastic outcome for all. I hope the Minister of State can hit the ground running in his new post, as he has done, and let us deliver, not just for Kildare but for Ireland, this jewel in the crown of our heritage.