Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the first question relating to the meetings I had with the island communities prior to this tendering process, the message was loud and clear that they wanted to keep their air service, and I ensured there was a protection in place to keep it. To repeat again, once I gave permission or the green light to the OGP to take charge of this process, I was outside that process. Senator Healy-Eames would be the first to tell me if a politician was interfering in an independent process. She would tell me I should not be involved in it. I came into politics in 1999, a time when there was tribunals about this and that where politicians did get involved in processes. It is important to make that statement.

I spent a wonderful time on the Aran Islands a number of years ago. As a politician and as Minister of State with special responsibility for the islands, I wanted in the first 12 months of my tenure to go to the islands I had never visited. I had never been to Sherkin Island, off the coast of Cork, or Bere Island, where I had a wonderful experience. I had never been to Tory Island, but I have been there now. I have an outstanding invitation to Inishbofin, where there was an issue with bus transportation services. We sorted that issue and I would like to acknowledge the leadership shown on the island. I look forward to going to the Aran Islands and to the ongoing conversations and communications that need to happen. I appreciate Senator Healy-Eames's giving of the space to do that, but I am also conscious of the fact that the end of the month is near.

I would like once again to acknowledge agus m'aitheantas a ghabháil don cheannasaíocht chumasach ar na hoileáin. Chuala mé go raibh na cruinnithe éagsúla ar na hoileáin iontach dínithe. Chuala mé fosta go bhfuil an cumarsáid atá ar siúl idir an comhairle contae agus na daoine sa Teach seo agus sa Teach eile iontach dearfach agus go bhfuil cumarsáid oscailte ann. Chuala mé an díospóireacht agus cím na deacrachtaí atá ann. Tá cuid mhór deacrachtaí ann ó thaobh achan rud ar na hoileáin idir pholasaithe éagsúla agus eile. Ba mhaith liom a chur in iúl agus caithfear a chur in iúl arís m'aitheantas don obair chruaidh atá á dhéanamh ag na daoine san OGP. Ba orthu a raibh an dúshlán maidir leis an bpróiseas tairisceana. Tá an próiseas fós beo agus sin an fáth nach bhfuil mé ábalta cur isteach air.