Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leader, Senator Maurice Cummins, to consider having a debate in the autumn to assess the phenomenal success of The Gathering, which is being promoted by the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Michael Ring, the Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, and Jim Miley, who is the organiser and chairman of the committee. Events have been held during the summer throughout Ireland and they will continue into the autumn. In my parish of Fuerty-Castlecoote, a very successful gathering was held last weekend of three schools that had been amalgamated into one, which was attended by all the families. It was a wonderful weekend. It was commercially successful for the area, and great community spirit was shown. I congratulate all involved, including the chairperson, the committee members and all the volunteers who worked over the entire weekend. It was real community spirit in Castlecoote, the most beautiful town in Ireland. We would like to discuss with the Minister in a debate in the autumn what will happen next year and beyond. Senator Ó Murchú referred to the phenomenally important year of 2016, which will mark 100 years since the Easter Rising. Events will be held in every town and village in Ireland to commemorate that successful, courageous event in 1916.

I will suggest to the Minister at that stage that the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, be appointed to eliminate red tape in this country. We should try to create jobs and not to be inhibited by the type of red tape with which we are faced. I will give the Leader one example of that.

Last weekend, we wanted to have a barn dance in the village and we could not have it without a licence to dance. In Ireland, it is like getting a licence to drink Guinness.