James Bannon (Fine Gael)

While welcoming the mid-Shannon area tourism tax incentive scheme, which will bring valuable benefits to parts of the midlands, I am disappointed that all of County Longford was left out of the scheme. The Minister for Finance, who has been very parochial in his activities in the midlands in recent years, should come to the House to explain why County Longford, which is in proximity to the area in question and through which the River Shannon runs, was left out of the scheme. People in the midlands are very disappointed about this development.

The Minister is a parochial politician. He moved the proposed gas pipeline away from County Longford and he has delayed the development of phase 2B of the development at Longford-Westmeath General Hospital.