Ms Gillian Coughlan:

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Ó Murchú as an gceist sin. As has been mentioned, the budget is a big issue. We do not have a budget to spend and that is certainly a big element. More than that, the regional assembly has a lack of identity among ordinary citizens. As I said last week, I think that some members of the regional assembly should be elected. People are appointed from local authorities and the ordinary citizen does not have an affinity with the regional assemblies. There is a democratic deficit there that needs to be made up. We talk about our regional spatial and economic strategy and joined-up thinking in government. The regions can do that. That is the strength of the regions. We can stand back, look at regional policy and allow regions to be planned correctly rather than the ad hoc approach whereby one local authority does something and another does the exact same thing while the two compete with one another for funding. The assemblies have been very important in winning and disbursing European funding in our regions. They need more capacity. The democratic element is also very important.