Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Many of us came here this morning with the belief that the Minister would be with us today to explain a couple of things, including the West Cork Development Partnership and the fact that a group that was rolling out the last programme are now not able to roll out this programme going forward. The Minister answered a number of questions in the Dáil last week on the same matter but left a lot unanswered in her reply.

I can only assume that is the reason she is not here today. She is belittling this committee by not being here. I have looked at several other committees and their work. They have been able to call anyone and everyone to come before them to bring people to order. The Minister in this case has not turned up. She has been given two weeks' notice as I understand it was two weeks ago that we discussed that this meeting should take place. We have been accommodative. I said I would meet on a Saturday, Sunday or any day or evening. It has not happened.

What is the big secret? I am beginning to wonder if I was right when in the Dáil recently I asked the Minister a question and mentioned the word "secret". If there was nothing to be worrying about, the Minister would be here today before the committee. I am greatly disappointed. I came up from west Cork very early this morning to make sure that the views of the people of west Cork would be listened to. The Minister, in her wisdom, has decided that she was not going to be here to discuss this. It is most disappointing. It is a disappointment for the people of Cork South-West in particular and for the West Cork Development Partnership, which has rolled out a programme for 25 years but is at this present time filling boxes because it is being moved on, basically, with little or no explanation as to how this has happened. Unfortunately, the Minister is not here. She can answer for that herself. We can only assume that there is a reason behind it. It is very disappointing.