James Heffernan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

As I am sure the Cathaoirleach and many Members will be aware, some of the Leader organisations are in the capital today. They had a press conference this morning and will hold a demonstration at lunchtime and I hope to see Members of this House supporting them. In my own town of Kilfinane, the Leader group, Ballyhoura Development, is the major employer in the town. It is probably the only organisation in the town bringing people into the area. Efforts made by Ballyhoura Development and its predecessor, Ballyhoura Fáilte, over the past 20 years have benefited the area and the town hugely. In that part of south east County Limerick and north Cork, from Cappamore to Kilmallock to Mitchelstown to Castletownroche, Ballyhoura has become byword for quality. We have the fantastic Ballyhoura mountain bike trial and the Ballyhora hostel and there are food brands which carry the Ballyhoura name. It has almost become a quality mark in the region.

We have opened up this Chamber as a forum previously. I understand alignment to an extent and I know that some Leader organisations are not as good at what they do as Ballyhoura is in my area. Ballyhoura should be the ideal to which everybody aspires. We are in the middle of a Cabinet reshuffle and there will be a new Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. Limerick has suffered already with the amalgamation of the county and city councils. I ask the Government hold back on alignment for now until we have a proper debate in this Chamber with the CEOs of the different Leader organisations and the new Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. Let us hear their points of view. I hope the Leader can facilitate that as soon as possible.