Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On Brexit, I agree with previous speakers that it is important that we try to work out the issues involved. It is going to be a long-term problem for Ireland.

While travelling here in my car this morning, the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, was on RTE radio speaking about rural Ireland and his Ireland 2040 plan. In the past few months many Senators have mentioned that we have a two-tier recovery. Dublin is glowing. There seems to be a lot of employment and, as Senator Catherine Ardagh said, there is massive traffic congestion. However, rural Ireland has been forgotten. When one looks at health services, schools, shops and post offices or at main streets and town centres, it is clear that it is very difficult for them to remain attractive for businesses. It is also difficult for people to live and work in rural Ireland. It is a 23-year plan and the Minister said this morning that public meetings would be held in various areas to discuss it. If people want to know something these days, they turn on RTE radio and they will hear all of the information the Minister and the Taoiseach are launching. In 2002 -,15 years ago - there was a national spatial strategy which I am sure some Members will remember.