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

I thank the Deputy. Indeed, I was on Bere Island last year and I managed to dial in remotely to attend a Cabinet meeting from there. I have to say that the hospitality I received was second to none. It is a lovely island. I met a representative of the island when I was at the annual general meeting, AGM, of Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann on Árainn Mhór only two weeks ago. All of the issues the Deputy has mentioned are the ones that keep coming up and the issues that were raised with me at the AGM. I am happy that because of the extensive consultation, those issues will obviously be part of this new policy on how we are going to address them. Housing is probably the biggest issue that I took from the meeting, in any event. I have not seen this draft policy yet. My officials have it and there are a few bits and pieces that are being attended to and they will be bringing it to me very shortly. We will have the policy and will get it published then as quickly as we can.

I also said to the islanders that while a great deal of consultation has gone on, this policy will be a living document and, if we need to change it is as time goes on, we will do so. The important bit for me is that we get buy-in from the different Departments because we cannot deliver it from my Department alone. My job will be to pull it all together, ensure it addresses the issues that the islanders have raised, how we look forward, but also to hold the Departments to account to ensure that they deliver on it.

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