Brendan Daly (Fianna Fail)

Will the Acting Leader arrange for the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to provide the House with an outline of how it is proposed to deal with the final tranche of the Cohesion Fund, the process in respect of which is due to conclude at the end of the year? Such funding has been responsible for the provision of many community facilities, assisting small farmers in rural areas and the provision of after-school courses for young children in disadvantaged areas. Approximately 90 children in County Clare will be affected if the Cohesion Fund is not maintained after the end of the year. This is a serious matter and we might not have an opportunity to discuss it before the termination of the funding on 31 December. Much of the useful work that has been done by community organisations will come to an end unless an alternative arrangement is put in place. Under the Minister's direction, a reorganisation of community bodies is taking place and it would be of assistance if he came before the House to provide an explanation on how he proposes to deal with these issues.

I would welcome the opportunity to debate the issue of rendition at some opportune time. A draft report of discussions that have not yet been completed was leaked in advance of the Minister's visit to Brussels today to provide evidence to the relevant committee. I wish to condemn that development in the strongest possible way. I do not believe there will be any difficulty debating these issues when the final report becomes available. However, all that exists at present is a draft report and this does not contain evidence to be provided today by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The draft report was deliberately leaked and one need only have listened to yesterday morning's radio interviews to have a good idea of from where the leak came. The leak was deliberately designed to embarrass the Taoiseach, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and those who work at Shannon Airport.