Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I thought I made myself clear. Next week, this House will debate other issues which run parallel to this. For very good reasons, I do not interfere with Leader groups or try to pressurise them into decisions. If I did, there would be howls from the Opposition of ministerial interference in bottom-up companies.

Longford Community Resources Limited has decided to reject the application. Any change must come through persuasion of the company, by Senator Bannon and other local people, to revise the decision. Unfortunately, I must be adamant in this case. It is not my practice, and for good and valid reasons I do not intend changing that practice, to try to pressurise Leader companies. They were given autonomy. It was Europe's wish that they have autonomy and I do not want to impinge on that autonomy.

I am not giving a personal view of the application. I am hugely in support of community development. I cannot adjudicate on this case. Even if I think an individual decision is wrong — one can always feel that — I still do not interfere as long as the decision has been made within the rules. Local autonomy is a precious thing which has been given to local community groups. There are community representatives on every Leader company and they are very local.