Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the agreement on a memorandum of understanding between a group of business people in counties Cavan and Fermanagh and the current owners of the former Quinn Group to purchase the manufacturing and construction businesses of the former Quinn Group. This is welcome news for people in the locality as it will ensure the businesses remain in the hands of local business people.

I also congratulate everybody who contributed to the rally to which Senator Mooney and other speakers alluded on the future of the Leader groups. It is ironic that the successful Leader model, which had provided thousands of jobs in rural Ireland, is being used throughout Europe as an example of the invigoration of rural areas given that it is being dismantled by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. Members of the previous Seanad from the north east were familiar with an organisation known as RISE or Rural Ireland Says Enough. If rural Ireland had enough five years ago, what is it saying under this Government which has the worst record on rural areas as any Government in the history of the State. This is a serious matter for those living in rural areas and it is time we woke up to what is happening in rural communities.

Senator Mooney referred to the Garth Brooks fiasco. I welcome the intervention of the various individuals whose names have been mentioned. I am fascinated by the dance that is being done on this issue and pleased that the Taoiseach and others in high office have finally heard the thunder roll.