Kieran’s comments: In response to the debate in the City Council Chamber on the need for an event Centre:

I agree with the manager. There is an enormous need for a conference centre that will host 500+ people in this city.

Presently, the cheapest option is one of our hotels in our suburbs – Rochestown Park or Silversprings can accommodate 800 people max.

Just on the matter of a conference centre, I feel the concert hall could be used – harnessed more for conferences. If one tries to hire the Concert Hall for a conference, one has to hire your own tables and sound equipment plus get insurance – that all adds up.

I know with previous educational projects I have been involved in the city, it has been easier to take the event to a place like Silversprings where the equipment is in place. For example at a basic level at the moment the Concert Hall has no inhouse roaming mike. So City Council I feel itself is behind in making the Concert Hall more accessible as a conference venue.