Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not agree with Senator Craughwell's comments about the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney. He has been an excellent Minister across any Department he was in. I have every confidence he will deal with the challenges ahead.

I wish to speak to the just transition and the Premier Lakelands Food Hub in Longford. I am delighted Enterprise Ireland support the change in the plan to develop a food hub in Lanesborough in County Longford following the closure of the Lough Ree power station. There is €1 million in funding that comes with that and significant funding from the just transition. There is an issue and Senator Eugene Murphy would be very well aware of it too. The €500,000 due to be promised by the ESB to both Lanesborough and Shannonbridge for community projects identified by the local community but that commitment has not come forth. Perhaps we could write to the ESB on behalf of the two communities to come up with the €1 million that the two communities are entitled to.

The terms of contract for the just transition commissioner are due to end shortly. Mr. Kieran Mulvey, well known to all of us through the different facets of work he has done and who is extremely experienced, has been in the role and done an excellent job working on behalf of the communities in difficult times. I ask that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, reappoint him for a further term of two years. He knows the brief inside out, the communities and the challenges, of which there are lots. We must leave Mr. Mulvey in that position to ensure we can deliver on those projects over the next number of years.

I asked the Taoiseach last week if we could facilitate a meeting involving the Oireachtas Members from the counties involved with Mr. Mulvey and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, as well as the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste. This is to make a further push and ensure these projects, which we have been speaking of for a couple of years, can be delivered.