In Ireland today, there are only 6 National Parks, none of which are in the Midlands, and none of which relate to our longest and most well-known river, the Shannon (the parks are: Killarney, Glenveigh, The Burren, Connemara, Ballycroy and the Wicklow Mountains).

National Parks are managed by the Office of Public Works, unlike Forest Parks, which are managed by Coillte, and are maintained as showcases for our heritage and landscape. The towns and villages that our closest to our National Parks are our most well-known tourist destinations.

The Green Party believes that we should have many more National Parks, and I believe that Lough Key is an ideal location for a National Park.

At this stage, it should be clear to Roscommon County Council that introducing high-impact development directly into Lough Key will be extremely problematic. I would like to see Roscommon County Council formulate a campaign to have Lough Key declared a National Park. It is a campaign I will strenuously support. I believe that this in the only way the full economic potential of Lough Key can be realised.