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

The Deputy will agree that I have taken a keen interest in the islands. I have taken the trouble - I know Deputy Ó Cuív is a regular visitor to them himself - and have been on Bere Island, I have been on Aranmore twice this year already and one of the visits was to open a wonderful new seafront facility for the islanders there with huge investment under the rural regeneration fund in conjunction with Donegal County Council. I am personally committed to making sure that we deliver on this island policy but there is no point in having a document if I do not nail down other Departments so that they must deliver. I mean that. I will do that. I will make sure that whenever the document comes, and there has been much consultation on it, that it is a meaningful document with very clear objectives and actions to back up those objectives. That is what I want to achieve. It is not easy living on an island. Deputy Connolly refers to Inis Óirr and the difficulties there on the pier and the simulation that is going on in Cork. As I said the last time, it comes up every time in Questions in the House, if I could do it myself I would do it because I am sick wondering when it is going to move on. How many times do you have to do this or how long does it take to develop it?

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