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

I thank the Senator again for her observations and suggestions. She is correct in saying that there are always ways in which we can be creative in terms of accessing necessary funding that could have a direct impact on the lives of those living on our islands. I visited Árain Mhór in the last ten days, along with the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar. We got a great insight into the provision of health services there and the importance of such services to islanders. The issue is one of having a direct impact, and a lot of projects at a European level are capable of that. The Senator will be aware of the AranLIFE project on the Aran islands, funding for which was secured from the EU to the tune of approximately €2.5 million. That project is having a very positive impact.

The Senator also mentioned agriculture. She may be aware that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, has made special provision for the islands in the new round of single farm payments. The islands have been considered in that context. I agree with the Senator's point that any policy measure that may impact on the islands must be proofed. I continue to engage with Comhdáil Oileáin na hÉireann and will meet that organisation again next week. Consultation is important and has taken place over the last 12 months. That said, if there are new ways of doing things, I am certainly open to that.

We must also be conscious of investments for different islands. On Tory Island, for example, we are investing €250,000 in the development of a helipad, which will be a very welcome infrastructural addition to the island. There are smaller islands, including Inishbofin, Gola and Owey, for example, which do not have a ferry service. They are seeking such a service, especially during the summer, given that tourist numbers are increasing at such an enormous rate along the Wild Atlantic Way. There are development opportunities there and it is important that we engage with them on that. There is a meeting arranged with the smaller island representative group in a few weeks' time. There are plenty of issues involved. I acknowledge the role of the leadership on the islands. During the recent negotiations on air services to the Aran Islands, a number of public meetings were held and approximately 18 politicians from the mainland attended them. The meetings were very dignified. I got feedback from different people who said that the meetings were dignified and well-measured and that there was much leadership shown on the island. I acknowledge that leadership. I also want to acknowledge the new transparent and independent process in which full responsibility is given to the Office of Government Procurement in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and which leaves me outside that process. It is important to acknowledge the professional work that was done by the officials of the Office of Government Procurement and by the Attorney General and the Chief State Solicitor's office. Where there probably was a political weakness was that I was precluded, as Minister of State, from saying anything during the process. The advice from the Chief State Solicitor and the Attorney General was that it was better to say very little in case it would prejudice the process.

This is a new system, it was only introduced in 2014. If there are lessons to be learnt, let us look at these lessons in terms of the needs of the community and island. On the other hand, we all have a responsibility and duty to the taxpayer and a responsibility to due process. The public is very much of the opinion that politicians should not be involved in that process. This is a new process. Politicians are completely outside of the process in terms of the decision and the outcome. If there are lessons to be learnt from the last five to six months, let us look at them and see what we can try to do differently. As a former community worker, I am a big advocate of ensuring that at the centre of any consultation is the community and its needs. We have a duty as legislators to have a very strict adherence to process and to do things right and also to ensure that savings are made, because we have a duty to the taxpayer. So all of that is in the mix, and no doubt that will form part of the conversation on the new tender process in the future.

I thank the Senator again for raising this matter. It has given me an opportunity to talk a little about the process. Key to any future deliberation around policy or policy change on the islands is that the communities have to be at the heart of it. The officials in my Department are very conscious of the work they are doing. They have been very proactive in providing services. One can see the number of cargo ferries that we have provided on the islands and they do a very professional and thorough job. I acknowledge my officials for the work they do on an ongoing basis. As we go forward with the new tendering process, we will, no doubt, have a very proactive and engaged conversation between the island communities, my own officials, and officials from the Office of Government Procurement to ensure that we continue to provide the service to the islands. Keeping that service was critical to the process. The officials in the Department were very conscious of that from the beginning. I thank the Senator.