Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is a strong commitment across Government to support development of the islands. I could give a list of the different things that have happened on the islands recently. There has been much more investment in them. There has been a major focus on them since responsibility for them has come into the Department of Rural and Community Development. I think that is recognised.

Significant consultation has been undertaken with island communities. There has been a wide consultation process with Departments and Government agencies. The islands federation, Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann, has had an opportunity to make a presentation to the interdepartmental committee and will be engaged with further as policy development progresses. I will be publishing the policy soon. I hope to have it for consideration by the end of the summer. If I keep consulting, I will never get this policy published. I will commit to having a review of it. It should be a living document. If things need to be changed as time goes by, we will do that.

See this speech in context