Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Good girl. The town and village renewal scheme is up and launched, as is the CLÁR programme. The report of the post office working group is completed. The public consultation process for public banking is done. There is the economic Atlantic corridor. What we are trying to do is compete with the east coast to deal with the infrastructure about which Deputy Fitzmaurice talked. I agree with him 100% that the more infrastructure we get in the west of Ireland, the better. The greatest thing that ever happened to the west was the Wild Atlantic Way, about which some of Deputy Rabbitte's colleagues complained. As soon as we got the Wild Atlantic Way up and running, they wanted something for Dublin and for the midlands. They were so jealous that the Wild Atlantic Way was working so well. I can go on. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, is doing a superb job in regard to flooding. He has worked so hard on that in recent months and he has it up and running. With regard to the arts, €9 million was invested and 80% of that went to rural Ireland. The Minister, Deputy Naughten, is working on broadband and mobile phone coverage. There are many other positive things happening. What we want is more positivity.

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