Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the good news that in the past few hours the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has signed an agreement for an €800 million peace programme for Ireland. It is very good news and must be welcomed. That will mean there will be €100 million coming into the BMW region. This will create jobs, growth and research and development, and it will help counteract long-term unemployment among young people. Having served at Leitrim County Council level over the past few years on the PEACE II and PEACE III programmes, I know full well the good that can be delivered when this money is brought in. It will mean a total of €2 billion between 2015 and 2020.

I also support my colleague, Senator Hildegarde Naughton, on the development of the greenway in her area. We are anxious to develop a greenway through Sligo, Leitrim and right into Cavan and Northern Ireland, but consultation must take place with the farming community there. It is vitally important that all the farming organisations get involved in this. I was to the fore when there was a debacle about hillwalking issues in the farming community. The only way to resolve that was by sitting down and talking to the farmers. Much good can come of it and it will develop the west of Ireland.