The State should acquire the Guinness Farmleigh Estate in the Phoenix Park, possibly as a centre for negotiation, literary excellence or the exhibition of Irish products, Fine Gael has proposed.
The Minister for the Marine, Dr Woods, yesterday said in the Dail that the State was considering whether or not to acquire the property. The suggestion that it should be used as a Taoiseach's residence had already been ruled out.
The Minister had been replying to a question from the Fine Gael spokesman for the arts, gaeltacht, heritage and the islands, Mr Enda Kenny.
Mr Kenny later issued a statement in which he called for the State to acquire Farmleigh. He said it comprised of a magnificent mansion of 40,000 square feet along with 78 acres of land. Its entrance is through the Phoenix Park and the price quoted was £15 million.
Given that individual houses in Dublin are fetching prices of up to £10 million, it would be outstanding value, he said. It should not be acquired as a Taoiseach's residence but could be used for a variety of other purposes.
Mr Kenny added that it could be used as an international centre for negotiation on dispute resolution, given Ireland's neutrality. Another use could be as a world centre of literary excellence where writers could live and work for set periods and give true value to a tax regime introduced here many years ago.
Another purpose could be as a permanent exhibition centre for the best of Irish products, Mr Kenny said.