Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

I join my colleagues in calling for a debate on the cancellation of the May Day concert. It comes in the wake of our condemnation of the serious disturbances at the St. Patrick's Day parade. There is a worrying trend where drug and alcohol fuelled louts are taking over the streets and the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism should come before the House to explain what is happening.

County enterprise boards were created ten years ago and have created more than 10,000 jobs but I am shocked to see that their budget was cut by 23% last year and will now be cut by a further 30%. The Tánaiste should come into the House to explain this. The latest cut will ensure that a cost effective board with four employees will have an administration budget that exceeds its grant aid budget. This is crazy. Is the Government trying to axe the boards that were at the forefront of economic success in rural counties? The Tánaiste must explain this because it is ridiculous that the administrative budget exceeds the budget for grants.