Joe McHugh (Fine Gael)

I appreciate the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, has responsibility for the technical aspect of the Bill. However, I wished to convey my desire to have the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, in the House. The Minister needs to be present so he can see what is happening because his ministerial colleagues are taking a hand off him. I accept the Minister talks the talk and I record my admiration for what he says and his intentions for the west, disadvantaged areas and, if I may be parochial, CLÁR areas of County Donegal. However, when the Minister began talking the talk, I had serious reservations about how he would finance his broadband projects, road, sewerage and water programmes and general targets for disadvantaged areas. Up to one year ago, I believed the Department of Community and Gaeltacht Affairs was nothing more than a bridesmaid ministerial post.