Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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The purpose of today's meeting is to find out what it takes to sustain a viable rural community. We have representatives of the Irish Countrywomen's Association, the Irish Men's Sheds Association and Macra na Feirme.

I give the witnesses a fáilte mór as teacht insteach inniu. We are trying to get as much information from the witnesses in regard to the current status in rural Ireland and what they feel needs to be done to fix it, so that we can get their input into our report, which we hope to publish in the new year.

I welcome Mrs. Marie O'Toole, national president of the ICA, Ms Helen Rutter, regional president of Border, Midlands and West and Ms Anne Devitt, national public relations officer and press officer of the ICA. Mr. Barry Sheridan chief executive officer, Mr. George Kelly, chairman and Mr. Eoin Martyn, board member, representing the Irish Men's Sheds Association. Mr. Sean Finan, national president and Mr. Paul Smyth, the policy officer from Macra na Feirme.

I invite Mrs. O'Toole to start.