Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. McCarthy for his kind words. It certainly is a core issue for us. Today has been very useful and we have had great, positive engagement and solutions proposed. We have heard from people at the coalface, the pros and cons, the ups and downs and the faults and failings of community development. We are predominantly coming from the right place. Ms McHugh encapsulated it when she said we are all proud of where we come from and want to make it a better place to live in, work in and to visit. That template is there and we heard it from the representatives of Free Market.

We need to incorporate what our guests have said within Government policy. We will certainly be recommending that as a committee. Deputy Niamh Smyth recommended that our guests come in so I compliment her for that. Senator Coffey put forward the rationale to bring up Cappoquin and it makes a lot of sense. Wearing my Clare hat, I invited the good people from Clare.

It was a very worthwhile meeting. We will follow up next week when we will have more interaction on this particular subject. It is an issue that needs to be solved by the Government across Departments. We will take note of exactly what the witnesses said today. I thank them again.