Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am glad that the Minister has set deadlines for the report of the task force. I regret that it was not done in time for her to receive all the task force reports not just a week or two before the budget but well in advance of it. Better late than never.

I still wish to stress the fact that we are getting stopgaps, pilot schemes and so on. We need some medium-term planning and certainty for all of sectors, including sports, events, and the arts. Some are largely State funded and have funds in the kitty. Some are totally commercial and are facing catastrophic situations. I look forward with interest to the budget. I hope it delivers. We do not need sticking plasters. The budget needs to deliver medium-term planning and the finance to back that up. Can the Minister assure me that will happen?

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