Dublin city centre task force
Deputy Gannon asks what the promised Dublin city centre task force will do and what budget it will have. The Tánaiste says he is not responsible for the Taoiseach’s Ard-Fheis remarks, confirms a task force is to be established, and says details will follow.
One of the more odious aspects of the Taoiseach's contribution to the Fine Gael Ard-Fheis on Saturday was when he said, "It is time to have pride again in our capital city", as if Fine Gael had not held the justice Ministry for the past 13 years. He went on to say he would immediately convene a Dublin city centre task force, bringing together the council, retailers, business, community groups and the Garda. Will the Tánaiste tell me what his understanding of this task force is? As he will be aware, I have been asking for such a task force for about two years now. What sort of budget will be applied to it? How will the task force the Taoiseach talks about differ from the task force for the inner city already initiated under the Department? How will it differ from the joint policing committee for Dublin City Council? How will it differ from the initiative already under way by DublinTown? What is this task force? Who is involved in it? Has it been discussed at Cabinet or is it just more bluster?
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I know the Deputy is an avid follower of Fine Gael Ard-Fheiseanna down through the years-----
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-----and that is commendable in terms of his broader interest in politics. I am not responsible for anything said at the Fine Gael Ard-Fheis.
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You are responsible for keeping them in government.
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What the Taoiseach indicated in the House the other day was that he would establish a task force in respect of Dublin. I think Deputy Gannon has called for one, has he?