Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Possibly, but the Seanad will have a particularly important view.

I ask for the views of witnesses on the local community development committees. Do they consider it is a retrograde step to take away the Leader programme and put it into the committees and under local authorities? Many people objected to it. The Leader programme played a very good role in the development of local areas. I am interested in the view of witnesses as councillors on the ground.

The Chairman has made the point before that it is very important for the Committee of the Regions to have contact with the joint committee on a regular basis. The Committee of the Regions plays a very important role in making contact with Europe. We should work together to see what will happen in the development of Europe, particularly as to how it affects people on the ground.