Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for the very valuable information they have provided. I will apologise in advance because I must go to the Chamber to speak so I will not be able to stay for the entire session but I can look back on it. During pre-legislative scrutiny on the general scheme officials from the Department told us they were not considering the re-establishment of the co-operative development unit, CDU, in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. We were told there was not a particular need for the re-establishment of this unit. We were also told that between ten to 15 co-operatives are established in the State every year. I fundamentally disagree with the Department and I very much see the need for the CDU. Do our guests agree or disagree? Do they have a view on how the CDU performed previously? If it were to make a comeback could it come back better? Is there something that could be done? Overall what is their view of the CDU? I ask the witnesses to speak in any order they choose.