Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

We need to see the roll-out of the Leader programme. Last week, I tabled a parliamentary question on Leader companies and was told a new company was being appointed to ensure EU regulations are observed. The name of this company is Mazars but I would call it a massager because it will receive plenty of State money. I understood it is now Government policy to get rid of these massagers. Does the Minister not have sufficient staff in his Department to ensure that Leader companies implement EU regulations? In regard to jobs, some of these companies will be amalgamated. Can the Minister guarantee these jobs will be open to competition and, if jobs will be lost, will the companies be amalgamated and the jobs retained even though sufficient work may not be available?

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