John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Members of the Independent Alliance and I had a meeting with the Minister today. Outside of the national review, there is a commitment to a review in the south east, which will cover all of the south east. The last review did not cover all of the south east. I take into consideration what Deputy Cullinane is saying but I ask Members from the south east to meet with the Minister and me as we sit down to decide the terms of reference for this review. For the first time ever, Members of the Oireachtas from the south east will have a say in how this review will be conducted. I am convinced that if the regions that were not taken into consideration in the first review - the consultants in Wexford, Tipperary and so on - and the catchment area whose inclusion we will have a say about are included, the catchment area alone will carry the review over the line, which did not happen the last time. I had a fruitful meeting with the Minister. We do not always get on and we have our differences but I think there has been a change. Let us get Members of the Oireachtas from the south east and the Minister together and see whether we can push this review over the line.

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