Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I understand the restriction on the Minister with regard to the evaluation process. I understand that but will he clarify the dates for me because I missed them when he was delivering his response? On wool in general, I am very concerned at how slowly progress is being made. It took us years to get the report that was commissioned. Some €100,000 was set aside. The report cost €70,000 while €30,000 went into the establishment of the Irish Grown Wool Council. I wish the council the best of luck but the Department has completely pulled back from it. I am a little concerned that I cannot see minutes anywhere. There are no minutes up on the website. I have asked about that repeatedly. I would be the first to support an open and accountable wool council that drives the wool industry so that wool is no longer a waste product. That is what wool is classified as. There might be scientific reasons for that but imagine that we are classifying wool as a waste product when there are so many possibilities for it. The Department and the Government should take a hands-on approach in light of the possibilities, particular given the urgent need to diversify our economy.

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