Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I wish the Minister, Deputy Carey, and the Minister of State, Deputy White, the best of luck. Today is their first day to take Priority Questions and I wish them well in their briefs. Rural, community and Gaeltacht affairs are very important to rural areas. I wish the previous Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, who had a great understanding of rural life, well on his new appointment. I have dealt with him for a number of years, as have Deputies McGinley and Byrne, and I wish him well. I am not being disrespectful but I hope the Deputies will not be there very long. We hope to have them removed very shortly and to be over there dealing with rural affairs.

Under the new name of the Department, the term "rural" has been removed from the its title. Will the Minister of State still have responsibility for the delivery of aspects of the rural development programme? As responsibility for the rural social scheme has been transferred to the new Department of Social Protection, will Údarás na Gaeltachta and the Leader groups continue to have responsibly for the rural social scheme?

See this speech in context