Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh gach éinne. The meeting is resumed and we are in public session. We will now discuss what it takes to sustain a viable rural community with representatives of Comhar na nOileán Teo., Roscommon Leader Partnership, South Kerry Development Partnership and West Cork Development Partnership.

I welcome the following witnesses to the meeting: Máire Uí Mhaoláin, príomhoifigeach feidhmiúcháin, and Mr. Simon Murray, comhordnóir tionscnaimh Chomhlacht Forbartha Inis Bó Finne, ar son Chomhar na nOileán; Ms Martina Earley, chief executive officer, and Mr. Tomás Beades, on behalf of Roscommon Leader Partnership; Mr. Noel Spillane, chief executive officer, Mr. Joseph McCrohan, rural social scheme/Tús programme manager, Mr. Seán de Buitléar, Leader programme officer and European Union projects manager, and Mr. Kevin Griffin, board member, on behalf of South Kerry Development Partnership Limited.; and Mr. John O’Brien, chairman, and Mr. Ian Dempsey, chief executive officer, on behalf of West Cork Development Partnership. Gabhaim mo bhuíochas leo as bheith anseo inniu.

I wish to draw attention to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009 witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary respect to the effect that where possible they should not criticise nor make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I also wish to advise the witnesses that their opening statements and any other documents they have submitted to the committee may be published on the committee website after this meeting. Members are reminded of the longstanding parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

Today's meeting is a first in a series of meetings this committee will hold to get to the heart of what makes a rural community sustainable and viable. During our deliberations we will examine all aspects of the requirements of rural communities in modern Ireland. We have divided it into six different streams: employment, emergency services, local services, quality of life, education and transport. We will gather evidence from witnesses from all four provinces, including the Gaeltacht, including representatives from Leader partnerships and Government agencies, local service and local interest groups, business, education, farming, financial and transport sectors, and health care, leisure, sport and charity organisations as well as the relevant Government Departments. It will be a wide-ranging and comprehensive study.

Today we are considering the employment stream which includes investment, development and employment in rural areas, doing business and locating workers in rural areas and incentives for rural enterprises, resource-based industries and creative and media industries.

Glaoim ar ionadaithe Comhar na nOileán Teoranta chun labhairt leis an gcoiste.