Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome not only a fellow Kerry person but a fellow parishioner to the House and commend Deputy Seán Kelly on his work in the European Parliament. I would like to hear his views on the proposed alignment of the partnerships with local authorities and how it will affect EU funding, as there is a fear in communities that the funding will be diluted. EU nationals working here have child benefit paid to the countries in which their families reside. It is a bone of contention for many people, especially in a time of recession, that child benefit is paid at the Irish rate in other EU countries. Has the proposal that child benefit be paid at the rate of the country in which the family resides been discussed at EU level, as the rate is quite high in Ireland?

My third question concerns EU tourism policy. In Europe, has Deputy Kelly heard discussion of the price of rail travel in Ireland and whether it is prohibitive for tourism, given that a one-way rail ticket costs the same as a return ticket? I am aware this is having an adverse affect on tourism. I would welcome his views on those issues.