Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is a commitment in the programme for Government that the Government wants to have thriving communities in urban and rural Ireland. For one rural community that had to make the long journey from the farthest offshore inhabited island in the State, Tory Island, to the gates of Leinster House, that commitment does not ring loudly because of a Government decision to provide a ferry service using a vessel that is 42 years old. That community is now under attack from a Government that is supposed to be caring for and nurturing it. What will the Taoiseach say to the six families who are saying they will leave the island if that is the ferry service that will be provided for them on 1 April? What will he say to the mothers and the fathers who say it will not be safe to take their children out to the island on this service? How will he ensure we will have a fit-for-purpose service serving that community? Will he meet the islanders who have made their way from Tory Island to Leinster House to speak to politicians? Will he make available five or ten minutes of his time today to meet them to listen to their genuine concerns?

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