Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also congratulate the Irish team. It just goes to show that the underdog sometimes wins. We all look forward to what will happen in the next few weeks.

I refer to the vote today in Britain and part of the Thirty-two Counties. I make a final appeal to all those with a vote to vote in Ireland's interests and in favour of the United Kingdom remaining in the European Unin. Partition is a barrier to economic growth and social inclusion in Ireland. As a brexit would compound this, it is important that this message be conveyed in a positive way. Sinn Féin is focused on finding all-Ireland solutions to most of our urgent problems. A Brexit would go against this and certainly not benefit those who most need an all-island approach to health, enterprise and other issues.

I refer to the rural development programme and the Leader programme, particularly the programme for County Mayo which will come onstream in the coming weeks. I am mindful that the budget has been cut by millions of euro. In County Mayo alone €9 million has been cut from it. This is crucial for communities in rural Ireland. While the Government is happy to post updates on issues such as broadband and the spring economic statement, communities are suffering cuts to the multi-annual funding to which I have referred. I call on the Minister of State with responsibility for the roll-out of the Leader programme - we are not yet clear on who it is; perhaps it is the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring - to come before the House to enable us to discuss it in a way that would be of most benefit to the communities we serve. I have expressed many reservations about the political influence that will be exerted on the Leader and rural development programmes. No such influence was exerted when the programmes were managed by local development companies. Given the new format of having the programmes come under county councils, we all have a responsibility to ensure they serve the interests of people on the ground and are not used as a political slush fund. Every project, whether in the community or the enterprise sector, must be treated on its merits and implemented for the economic and social development of communities. I would appreciate if the Leader would request, as a matter of urgency, that the Minister come to the House to discuss the issue.