Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her reply. First, I referred to a secret because if this was an open and transparent process, why is the EU now investigating this process? That is a very serious issue. I read in the Southern Starand in The Irish Times, which I presume are reputable newspapers, that there is an EU investigation into this decision. Second, the West Cork Development Partnership was the highest in terms of strategy in the previous Leader programme. It is incredible to think that someone who has not laid out a programme is now deemed to be even better than it. How is that possible?

I would like the Minister to answer both those questions because the people of Cork South-West, who suffered a great deal under the previous Government, require clarity on the matter. They continue to suffer under this Government when, astonishingly, they learn that their Leader company, which had delivered for them at the doorstep, has been told that it can no longer deliver a programme when it has done that for the past 25 years. Does the Minister believe there is a reason to investigate that matter, and will that delay the funding? What will happen in that regard?

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