Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I met the Commissioner, along with my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith, and we discussed a wide range of issues. This is probably the first time, I gather, that rural development has been assigned to the Agriculture Commissioner, and he expressed considerable interest, not just in the LEADER programme, but in the general bottom-up approach it is taking, enabling local communities to take decisions for themselves. Both Deputy Smith and I emphasised to the Commissioner that in the next round of discussions on agricultural policy reform and financial allocations, account should be taken of the importance of such initiatives as LEADER.

For the information of the House I have also met the Development Commissioner, who has a considerable degree of direct experience of rural issues. I am happy there is comprehensive understanding at the EU level of the importance of this programme, and of what are termed outside-the-farm-gate aspects.

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