Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State will certainly get the space from me, but 1 October is looming. In his supplementary response, will the Minister of State clarify if he expects a service to be in place after 1 October, which is in six or seven days' time? The Minister of State said that prior to the tendering process, officials from his Department met with representatives of the island communities. What did the officials hear? Did they hear from the islanders that a helicopter service from Galway Airport would be satisfactory? I am quite sure they did not hear that. This is fundamental.

As I said, I was on Inis Meáin at the weekend and I met all the children and the teachers in the two schools. The one question put to me was why the Minister of State will not visit the islands. I thought it was meant in good spirit although I know the Minister of State might feel he is under fire. They put questions to me about matters on which I would not necessarily agree with them. However, out of respect to the islanders, it would be good if the Minister of State visited and heard from them. He does not have to give his decision there and then when on the island, but he should at least show that our islanders will be given fair treatment by him. I have no doubt he can look at this matter. Will the Minister of State address those points?