Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

Ba mhaith liom cúpla focal a rá ar an mBille seo. I welcome the Minister to the House and congratulate him on the great work he is doing for the islands. He has been a champion for the island and Gaeltacht communities for many years. With limited resources, former Deputy Donal Carey did great work for the Gaeltacht and the islands back in 1995 and 1996 when he was a Minister of State.

As previous speakers have said, the islanders have had great transport difficulties. Shopping often entailed going to Galway or the nearest town or city, staying overnight and returning the following day. This was an enormous and expensive task. It is appropriate that they would get grant-aided facilities, as they deserve the same services as people in the rest of the country.

I am a member of Mayo County Council, which annually holds a meeting on one of the islands off the coast of County Mayo. This gives councillors a great insight into what takes place on the islands and the hardships and difficulties in transport, postal facilities, etc. It was a big deal for the council meeting to take place on an island. The transport out and back meant it was a full day's work to attend. I can well understand the need for the minimum statutory notice of three days for meetings. A member of a local authority from an island, the Gaeltacht or other remote area needs sufficient time to get to the meeting venue. If someone were elected from one of the islands it would be a considerable task to attend a local authority meeting and get back again. Those difficulties have never been fully recognised or appreciated.