Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I should explain that while I am not a member of the committee, all Members of the Oireachtas have a right to attend and speak at committee meetings. I was listening to the proceedings before I joined the meeting. This is an excellent exercise as it gives councillors and local authority officials an opportunity to discuss openly what difficulties they are experiencing with national government. I believe something good will come of this meeting.

I am familiar with the position in respect of the road to Clifden, which I used when I was a member - and subsequently chairman - of a health board. It is surprising to learn it has taken so long to reach this stage. If nothing else comes of today's meeting, we should at least get Departments to co-operate. That one Department is fighting another regarding what Galway County Council and people in Galway want to achieve suggests a terribly dysfunctional relationship. I intend to visit Inishbofin shortly. It takes two hours to travel from Galway to Clifden, after which one still must drive to Cleggan. It is a dangerous road and can be lethal at night. One must be a good driver to use it.

From the point of view of tourism, a road is needed in the area. The national primary route through Roscommon is in a diabolical condition. In that regard, archaeological problems have arisen in Rathcroghan. I have noted all of the areas mentioned in counties Meath and Cavan.

During the Fianna Fáil think-in in Carlow the issue of Brexit was discussed. The British Government, the Irish Government and the European Union do not know what the consequences of Brexit will be, but it will be very disruptive from an economic point of view and is a matter that should be of concern to us all. We will all have a role to play in facing up to what will happen when the United Kingdom moves to commence its exit from the European Union. Brexit is a factor in the development of the regions.

This is an excellent exercise. Councillors are busy people in pursuing their own livelihoods and responsibilities. I welcome the tremendous turnout. As an observer, the contributions were worthwhile in the context of the development of the regions and the country as a whole.