Mr. Rob Power:

I am happy to come in and add to that. We probably see a two-phase approach to this process. One, as Ms Coughlan has highlighted, is the European discussion, and hopefully at a European level we can stop this amalgamation of funding. Failing that, what we believe may happen is that member states would be given the authority to distribute the funding as well. At a national level, we would like to put the regional assemblies on a statutory footing for funding and ensure at a national level that cohesion funding is still available and being maintained and resourced well. We have used that funding very well in the past and it has served our regions and our county very well. Again, there is a dichotomy whereby in Ireland we go to the European table to discuss things, we are but one small island on the edge and we say that we need parity of esteem and to be involved in these conversations. There is a disconnect there when we bring that funding home and say, "Actually, we will manage it all centrally now and we will not allow the regions or the counties to get involved." If we are going to preach at a European level that we should have that equal voice at the table, we need to bring that home and say we are going to make sure that the funding will be democratised at national level.