Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)

I think the Minister may be misinterpreting what I am saying. I agree with these different projects, but the Minister is only now talking about a reply to the McCarthy report, when in the first instance he should have been in there fighting his corner. The doubt has been cast on these wonderful programmes, and the Minister has allowed that doubt to be cast on them. He is now going to write the critique, but it is too late because the general public thinks differently following the McCarthy report. The Opposition spokespersons were not given any opportunity to be part of the case for the defence.

The case put forward by the Department was obviously too weak. The report constantly states there is no evidence for the programmes, so is it not a bit late to be putting forward evidence when the door is closed? The Minister needs to come out strongly and he will have our support. Deputy Ring is supportive of the schemes, and I am supportive of the schemes, because they are all involved with the community. If the McCarthy report is trying to close down rural Ireland and if the Minister continues to write up reports at a late stage, then he will assist Mr. McCarthy in doing that.

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