Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I dtús báire, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le mo chomhghleacaithe, na hAirí, na Teachtaí Humphreys, Howlin agus Noonan as ucht a gcuid tacaíochta i rith an phróisis Mheastachán i ndiaidh an bhuiséid. Tá mé thar a bheith sásta go mbeidh airgead breise ar fáil d'Údarás na Gaeltachta. Rinne mé gealltanas i ndiaidh an bhuiséid fá choinne iarracht a dhéanamh ina thaobh. Tá sár-obair ar siúl ag an údarás. Thug an Teachta Kyne agus mé féin cuairt ar HID Global i nGaillimh i rith an tsamhraidh. Tá Údarás na Gaeltachta ag obair go dian dícheallach le Randox agus na comhlachtaí eile sna ceantracha éagsúla timpeall na Gaeltachta chun fostaíocht a chruthú agus a chosaint.

Deputy Kyne proposed that a timeline should be set out with regard to the two airstrips. I am open to doing something constructive here. The Deputy will be in touch with the various groups and comharchumainn on the ground in his backyard and his constituency. I would be interested in doing something about these two airstrips, which cost €9 million. That is the amount of money that went into the two airstrips, which are lying idle. As far as I am aware, the Irish Coast Guard has an interest in them. I have spoken to a few senior officers. The Deputy's question is a demonstration of his interest in this matter. Some of his colleagues in County Galway have been on to me as well. We have to try to move this forward. If the Irish Coast Guard is interested, maybe we should sit down and see how we can move this forward. I am open to the Deputy's suggestions. If he has ideas on how to move this forward, I will certainly be interested in hearing them.

See this speech in context