Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for her question. I know she has a huge interest in the islands. In my role as Minister of State, I met her at an event on Bere Island last summer when she was newly elected to Cork County Council. I congratulate her on her elevation to the Dáil.

One could argue that we are always learning from situations that arise. The Tánaiste and I launched an islands policy on Sherkin Island last November. It was a position paper or discussion paper and, since then, officials in my Department started a public consultation and information process, which involved consulting with a number of different island communities in January and February and through to 7 March. Things were halted thereafter when the Covid-19 crisis emerged and, as the Deputy knows, sometimes such activities are halted by weather conditions in any case. The officials travelled to a number of islands, including Cape Clear Island on 7 February, Inis Uí Drisceoil on the same date, Inis Mór on 29 January, an tOileán Mór on 17 January, Oileán Faoide on 10 January, Árainn Mhór on 13 February, Inis Fada on 7 February, Inis Meáin on 30 January, Inis Oírr on 22 January, Inis Buí on 10 January, and Inis Acaill on 9 January. That process is under way and we hope it will be concluded once the restrictions are lifted and travel can be resumed to allow public gatherings on islands.

It is a very important part of the process and, as the Deputy said, the aim is to publish an action plan as quickly as we can do so.