Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I remind members of the joint committee that in order for this meeting to be duly constituted, they are required to join the meeting remotely from within the defined precincts of Leinster House. Apologies have been received from Senator Paul Gavan. I ask members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones as they interfere with the recording equipment. As members are participating remotely from their offices, I ask them to click on the raised hand icon, at any point, if they wish to contribute during the proceedings of the meeting and to remain on mute until such a time as I call them to speak.

The main item on our agenda is a discussion on the strategy for rural development, Our Rural Future, a new five year policy plan. It is an ambitious and transformative plan for development at a time when our rural communities face many challenges, including the upkeep of local services such as banking services and amenities, but there is also a considerable number of opportunities which, up to recently, were never even contemplated, such as attracting foreign direct investment and jobs into our rural villages as a result of remote working.

Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic and the advent of working from brought many of these opportunities to the fore. The reality is good career opportunities are required if we are to retain our young people in our rural communities and the utilisation of the broadband networks, currently being built out, coupled with the new technology being developed will be at the heart of driving this rural revolution. This supportive approach to rural innovation is evident from the types of project being funded through the rural regeneration development fund.

Throughout this Dáil term, we explored the possibilities of remote working hubs and many of the themes and work this committee has developed merit the ambition of the strategy for rural development and the recently announced LEADER interim funding programme. With the funding in place and significant work under way in terms of connecting rural communities with the roll-out of rural broadband solutions, the committee is committed to scrutinising the delivery of the strategy for rural development, Our Rural Future, and it is our intention to monitor its progress and implementation of the coming months and years.

I would like to welcome the Minister for Community and Rural Development, Deputy Humphreys, and her officials; Mr. Andrew Forde, head of rural strategy and social enterprise, Department of Community and Rural Development, and Mr. Niall Egan, assistant secretary, service development, Department of Social Protection.

Members of the committees and the Houses have absolute privilege in respect of the statements made before either House of the Oireachtas or before the committee. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses, and in this case officials, present on the precincts of Leinster House are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are required to give to the committee.

If, in the course of committee proceedings, a witness is directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and he or she continues to do so, he or she is entitled, thereafter, only to qualify for privilege in respect of his or her evidence. The witnesses 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 practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a Member of either House of the Oireachtas, a person outside the House, or, an official, by name or in such a way to make him or her identifiable.

I call on the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, to make her opening statement.