Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State and I recognise that the Minister, Deputy Cullen, is obviously busy and is not in a position to be in the House. We are very fortunate to have the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Deputy Treacy, in the House, as he comes from the very heart of rural Ireland. He is well aware of the difficulties that have surrounded planning in rural areas, especially in the west.