Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)

I thank the witnesses for the presentations and welcome back Ms Coughlan. I was on EMRA with Mr. Healy for a number of years. I am genuinely delighted he is in the chair. As a member, he was always far more on top of the brief than I was. Given that the European Commission details on its website that Ireland got €1.4 billion in cohesion policy funding for the period 2021 to 2027, what do the assemblies fear that might be cut to? We met with the Swedish delegation after the meeting last Thursday. Similarly to other countries in the region, Sweden is talking about increased defence spending. That is totally understandable with a next-door neighbour like theirs. I am agriculture spokesperson for my party. We know the farmers are not happy being bundled in with cohesion funding and the regions are not happy being bundled in with farmers. Unfortunately, we will probably need to spend on both in the forthcoming budget but I do not know if the political will is there. I doubt it. Given that, how are the assemblies preparing for the next EU budgetary cycle post 2027? What are the main emerging priorities or biggest challenges the assemblies will face post 2027?