Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Following on from the comments of my colleague, Deputy Munster, and for the record as well as the people watching these proceedings, the Minister, Deputy Ross, only got two hours' notification on the Topical Issue matter to which he is responding and he was able to turn up.

On today's overall topic, I came in hoping for a damage limitation exercise. I welcome the proposal but, from what I see, we seem to be coming up against another Government propaganda exercise. As with the housing crisis, we all know what the problem is but all we are seeing are complicated solutions. The nails are fast being driven into the coffin of rural Ireland. We do not have time to wait for more pilot schemes. We need to put in place national proposals.