Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Minister accepts that Europe sometimes takes a long time to make decisions. It is like writing to Departments. I sent a letter to the Department of Education and Science last November and had to put down a question in the Dáil this week to get the reply. After getting the reply, the details were supplied to the person. I was lucky in that the Secretary General of the Department was involved but I will keep that Department so busy next week, the next time I put down a question, it will answer me. I will spend all Sunday preparing Dáil questions for it.

The Minister may have to make political decisions in respect of the Leader programme, be they two, three or one. He should make those decisions and get the programme up and running. I ask him to try to get it up and running as quickly as possible. He cannot wait for Europe, although I know he must. It is their money. One group cannot hold up the entire country. I ask the Minister to try to roll out the programme as quickly as possible.

See this speech in context