Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the issue of the dramatic cuts being made to Leader funding. When the European multiannual financial framework and CAP reform package were passed, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine could not wait to tell us that it was a great deal for Ireland and Europe at the time. The fruits of that rotten, disastrous deal that this Government negotiated with Europe are now apparent. It is proposed to cut Leader funding for County Meath by 46%. Leader money was used to fund festivals and many community halls and centres throughout my county, but that funding has been cut in half, which is disastrous. Shame on Government representatives who have issued press releases the length and breadth of this country welcoming this funding. The announcement about Leader funding means devastation for many rural groups, communities, festivals, parish centres and community halls that depend on this money. They depend very badly on Leader funding, and many groups had hoped to avail of it. This rotten deal was signed by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney. They could not wait to have tea in the parlour in Germany and in the offices in Brussels. Their view was that any deal would do. They did not fight for us hard enough and the cut in funding is the result. My county will now receive only half the money, and in some counties like Cork there has been a cut of 72%. That is the reality. That is the result of the disastrous, polite and too-respectful negotiations that took place in Europe. When this Government came to power it was mostly concerned about pleasing Angela Merkel and their European counterparts instead of fighting hard for this country. They have failed to fight hard, and the result is now to be seen.