Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Clendennen is so right. That regional aspect is important to all that we do, making sure that we drive jobs and investment but also cultural and people-to-people links, not just with the big cities but also with the regions of Ireland and counties like Offaly. I would be very happy to work with the Deputy, chambers of commerce, Offaly County Council and others on how we might explore that as well.

When I was out in Philadelphia and New York for the St. Patrick's Day period, there was a great sense of pride of many local authorities there representing their county. That is important too. That building of those people-to-people links, that diaspora and that huge sense of pride that people abroad have, not just of being from Ireland but exactly where they or where their grandmother was from in Ireland, are things that we should never take for granted. The Deputy is right. As we enter this challenging period economically, we should look to strengthen the people-to-people links even further and build up those regional and local links economically and culturally. That is important, and I look forward to working with the Deputy on that.

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