Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senators Hopkins and Gallagher raised the issue of TidyTowns. I join with both Members in congratulating the overall victor of the TidyTowns competition, Glaslough. I also congratulate the 118 entrants and all who participate in TidyTowns, including the volunteers. As mentioned by Senators Hopkins and Gallagher, TidyTowns is not just about collecting litter, it is about biodiversity, planting and the whole public realm. Many of those involved are volunteers. I congratulate them on their endeavour. I also congratulate the community of Carrickmacross on the reverse vending machine and the Minister, Deputy Ring, for his allocation of an additional €1.4 million to the TidyTowns initiative and I thank SuperValu for its sponsorship. TidyTowns is a wonderful voluntary initiative.

Senators Ó Céidigh and Anthony Lawlor referenced the issue of insurance. I am happy to arrange a debate on the issue with the Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy.

Senators Ó Céidigh and O'Mahony raised the equally important issue of rowing and the need for the funding of rowing to be put on a upwards trajectory given the unprecedented success in this area. It is a matter that I am sure the Minister, Deputy Ross, and Minister of State, Deputy Griffin, are familiar with. Mr. John Treacy, the chief executive of the Irish Sports Council, is aware of it. It is a matter in the main for the Irish Sports Council.I would not like to see Senator Ó Céidigh putting one sport against another. The greyhound industry has been very valuable to our country and just this week, the Irish Laurels began in Cork and we have seen a large effort by the greyhound industry to bring together new sponsorship under the leadership of Mr. Jimmy Barry Murphy. I hope the people in Cork will support the Laurels, as they did in Dublin with the Irish Greyhound Derby.

Senators Leyden and Feighan spoke of decentralisation and I am happy to have a debate on the matter in the context of the remarks of the Minister of State, Deputy Moran. Notwithstanding what Senator Leyden read from his script, the decentralisation process announced by the former Minister, Mr. Charlie McCreevy, was not a success.