Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the witnesses very much for their responses. I look forward to seeing the fruits of that work, because I think this is an area that Ireland can really expand in, notwithstanding the barriers that are faced by current operators, in particular in terms of licensing.

That draws the business of this meeting to a close. I thank the witnesses for their attendance, co-operation and responses. From our point of view, this has been a really interesting meeting. The message has been very clearly received. The witnesses need not be in any doubt about that. We have all learned a lot as well. There will be more for this committee to do on the issue in order to hold the Government to account and, effectively, get answers from the Minister on the delays with licensing but also to keep a watch on the implementation of the strategy and ensure the implementation group gets off the ground, two years’ in, and begins holding the document to account and interrogating its delivery. The witnesses can rest assured that this will be the first of many engagements in this space. We will bring other stakeholders in as well to hear their take on it. Chief among them, no doubt, will be the Department and the Minister.

I also thank members for their contributions during the meeting. They were good, pointed and well informed. They contributed to the meeting. All that remains for me to do is wish Ms Bocquel the very best. That has already been done several times. This is not her first time coming before the committee. We appreciate her participation and engagement throughout and wish her and her colleagues all the very best in the time ahead.