Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I support the kind words of Senator Dolan to the Naughten family. I paid my tributes last week with a number of other Members but like many other people, I am still reeling with shock because I was very close to the man. Second, I support Senator McGreehan in relation to the horticultural industry. We are missing an opportunity here to develop this and put extra funding into it. A lot of jobs could be created and we could produce an awful lot more of our vegetables and fruit at home if the effort was put in.

The main reason I am speaking this morning is to seek a debate on something that is very close to the Leader's heart; the Western Development Commission, WDC. I stress how important this particular organisation is to the west of Ireland; 280 companies support 345 projects; 90% of the enterprises supported by the WDC survive for more than five years - the national average is only 65.5%; 364 enterprises and co-working hubs were onboarded to the connected hubs network; more than 35,000 full-time equivalent job years were directly supported; and 66,000 indirect and induced employments were supported. The estimated value of carbon emission savings, which is very important in today's world, in 2023 due to the connected hubs is €1.6 million. Apart from that, it has generated over €3.35 billion in direct revenue, including €2.4 billion in exports; it has generated more than €639 million in research and development expenditures and it has contributed more than €444 million in Exchequer tax payments.

The role of this organisation is not sufficiently recognised by Government. While it gets State funding - it got €25.83 million in 2023 - the contribution it makes to the area we all know is lagging behind is highly significant. I want a debate here, Leader, with the relevant Minister to see how we could look at increasing the funding to the WDC. It plays a major role and I know I will have 100% support from the Leader on this. It is really important that all politicians from the west in particular give a massive show of support to this organisation that is there for 25 years.