Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis as ucht an deá-obair atá déanta aige agus ag an Rialtas. Mar a deirtear, tá a lán déanta, ach tá níos mó le déanamh. Is mian liom mo thuairim a thabhairt ar an gclár forbartha tuaithe.

I welcome the Minister to the House and compliment him and the Government on the improvements that have been made in the area of rural development. The Minister outlined a number of improvements that have been brought forward under the funding allocations pertaining to axes 3 and 4 of the new Rural Development Programme 2007-2013. I will not repeat what the Minister said, but I will touch on the key factors contributing to the development of rural areas and of services to rural dwellers. Senator Hannigan referred to post offices, which I agree form an integral part of rural infrastructure. However, keeping them open is not as easy as people might think. I recall at least two occasions when I had to drive around an area and knock on doors to ask people whether they would take over post offices. In both cases, the answers were negative. To quote a saying, the head was not worth the washing. The money was not there. I acknowledge the vital roles played by post offices, schools, churches and Garda stations in rural development.

I would love to see an end to the famous green man, which used to be in vogue and may still obtain in certain areas. As someone who is proud of being bred, born and reared in the country, I believe more crime was prevented by the actions of gardaí locally in rural areas, towns and villages than was ever committed. They knew what was going on and could identify the blackguards. We had such gardaí in Mullingar, who have gone to their eternal rewards after doing a marvellous job in keeping order.

When we speak about schools we tend to dwell on the related issues of numbers and planning. During the debates this Chamber has held on planning, the issue of serial objectors repeatedly arose. A previous speaker noted that An Taisce is being used to whip young people who apply for planning permission in rural areas, even in respect of their own lands. I could point to somebody who is connected in a family context but that is not an argument. A young man with a farm was granted planning permission by Westmeath County Council but, lo and behold, the area was visited by an aeroplane and an aerial photograph was taken that resulted in the decision being overturned. The serial objector to whom I refer came into this world with a silver spoon in his mouth. What about the ordinary son and daughter of Mary and Pat? Where are they supposed to live? That is why schools and churches are closing, although there may be other reasons in respect of the latter. I belong to a group of people who believe they have a pivotal role to play in churches. GAA clubs are also experiencing a decline as a result of the shrinking rural population.

Rural development is driven by infrastructure and people. It is not driven by crows, which are an important part of the flora and fauna.

Ba mhaith liom focal nó dhó a rá mar gheall ar Chomhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Mar is eol duit, a Chathaoirligh, bunaíodh an chomhaltas i Muileann gCearr i 1951. Tá an-áthas orm a rá go bhfuil ionad réigiúnach againn i Muileann gCearr. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Seanadóir Ó Murchú as ucht an ionaid sin. Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann has played a pivotal role in rural development. Visitors to this country want to see us as we are. They do not want to hear a Westmeath or Offaly version of a country and western song, they want us to sing in our native tongue and play our traditional music. One travels to another country to see people as they are and to taste their cuisine and hear their music and language. I commend the farming community on the role it has played in agritourism and rural development.