Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

Is mian liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire. Is beag duine ar an oileán seo a bhfuil stádas agus tuiscint an Aire, ar imeachtaí an iarthar agus na tuaithe, aige nó aici. Cuirim fáilte freisin roimh an tuarascáil atá curtha le chéile ag an Seanadóir Doherty. Caithfidh mé a rá go raibh áthas orm bheith ar an gcoiste sin. Cruthaíonn sé fiúntas agus stádas coistí an Oireachtais. Tá obair fairsing agus ilghabhálach, mar shampla ó thaobh taighde de, ar siúl acu.

An image which has stayed with me for many years was "The Late Late Show" on which the late Monsignor Horan appeared with a number of political figures. He was being decried for the amount of money it would cost to build Knock Airport. He stated in a nice way that he was a simple parish priest but he had worked out one sum, which was that the infrastructure to build and sustain one DART carriage in Dublin would cost as much as it would to sustain Knock Airport. The point he was making was that very often people far removed from rural Ireland and the west have a totally different preconception of the place to what it is exactly.

One of the best developments at Government level was the establishment of a specific department for rural affairs. This was most important for the simple reason that it was raised above agriculture and all of the other infrastructural possibilities and progress that could be made with indigenous industries which were not necessarily agriculturally based were dealt with. Often I have heard in a limited way people who do not understand the west or rural Ireland ask that this department be abolished. However, when one considers its track record in specifics, there is no doubt that it has helped to energise and motivate the communities involved. Long may it continue.

I was interested to hear the Minister state that the slowest growth of population was in Munster. Perhaps we need another report on ath-mhúscailt na Mumhan at this stage. The point he was making is that there has been a continuing increase in population and this is what CLÁR is about. It was specifically focused on those areas which may have had declining population to build it as were all of the other aspects which go with it.

With regard to the Minister's opening remarks, we are dealing with a totally different situation in considering this report than we would have been 12 months ago. We are dealing with a national and global recession. We must examine how the huge but appropriate infrastructure funded and placed in the west can benefit from where it is. Many other areas may not be quite as well positioned. The Minister made a number of points which are relevant, including what makes the west special. This is important because there is no doubt about the quality of life there. However, in the context of other aspects of living, such as cultural tourism, there is nothing as attractive or more potent as a policy than being able to portray the best of what one is oneself. I am speaking in terms of a way of life, an attitude and a culture. These are the very things I believe will prove attractive in the future. People will want a change from the humdrum activities of life and they will want to go back to where there is a reasonable pace. Because it is so extreme, severe and devastating, one can never understand the terrible trauma experienced by those who do not have sufficient financial wherewithal or who have lost jobs. We must keep reminding ourselves that our discussion should focus on sustaining and creating jobs. Against this background, I heard several times a comment that seemed a little like a black joke, although I know where it came from: "Good will come of the recession because it will make us stop and think." It will make us reflect on what exactly is quality of life.

I know young working couples who have exceptionally good salaries and jobs and who are trying to rear a family. They are commuting 50 or 60 miles every day, which is an utter nightmare. I have no doubt that these sensitive, educated people must go home at times and ask how they got to where they are and how they embraced the rat race in the manner in which they have done.

Very often, expenditure could very easily be managed in a different way. Youngsters do not always need designer jeans, clothes or shoes. While I admit there are those who do not have the wherewithal to purchase them, I believe that, by way of a philosophy or social concept, we need to revisit our thinking in this regard. The strength of rural Ireland, including the west, is that one can go there and embrace the environment with a minimum amount of money and partake of the finest food for a reasonable price. If one is lucky enough to stay in farmhouse bed and breakfast accommodation, one will have an experience there that is human and special. These are the types of experiences we can create.

I was speaking to some very sophisticated young teachers recently who stated that they go to country markets for organic products and free-range eggs. This is an example of small indigenous industry. If something happens to a big industry, the whole community is saturated with unemployment and there is little opportunity for 90% of the workforce to be re-employed, but there is a much greater possibility that small indigenous industries will survive, owing to continuing demand. We need a little more organisation to support these industries because, at times, they, including the country markets, could do with a little help. Those types of industries are vital.

Would it be possible to tweak some of the EU regulations? I am never too sure whether we are being too perfect in our interpretation of them by comparison with other countries.