Departmental Programmes
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-01
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Nessa Cosgrove (LAB), Labour Panel

I thank the Minister of State. We know the work that is done on the ground. However, there is a danger. That is why I think we should use our EU Presidency. I am talking in particular about the north west. It has been downgraded to a lagging region within the EU. It is in areas like that we know there are challenges in respect of employment opportunities, building sustainable communities and promoting green ethical farming. All of those matters come under the CAP budget. It must be ensured that we have this commitment.
I know that the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy Calleary, are committed to LEADER companies and SICAP. It is about trying to use our voice. We joined the EU in 1973. It was not a military operation that we joined. We joined because it would be better for all the people living on the island and that has to be taken into account when we look at areas such as the north west that have been downgraded in their EU status to a lagging region. That is the case we need to be arguing during our EU Presidency.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-01/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:08+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-01