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

I thank the Deputy. In fairness, she has asked me about this islands policy a great deal. There has been extensive consultation on it. We have the policy. Policy is fine but we need the actions. I want to hold other Departments to account. I do not want fancy, flowery language. I want time-bound actions so that when Departments state they will do something, they will do it. From my experience, the only way to keep other Departments toes to the fire is to get it down in writing. I will meet with Ministers in the various Departments; that is my plan. My officials have met with officials from other Departments. I just want to make sure we tie them down. When they say they will do it, I want to know when they will do it. We want a delivery date on it.

In fairness, the Deputy will know that Our Rural Future is a policy that includes actions to be taken every year. It is working, and I am holding Departments to account. As the Deputy said, I have shown my commitment to the islands. I was the first Minister for Social Protection, for many years, to increase the islands allowance in my first budget in the Department. There was a long-running issue in County Donegal regarding the roads on the islands, which were in terrible repair. I worked with the island communities and Donegal County Council, and the roads on some of the islands there have been transformed. If the Deputy gets a chance she should travel to the lighthouse on Arranmore, and ask the community the difference that has made to them.

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