There is time for Deputy Ó Ríordáin.

We are almost out of time but with the co-operation of Deputies we will squeeze in one more question.

Baineann mo cheist le cúrsaí oileánda agus go háirithe leis an bpolasaí do na hoileáin atá beartaithe le fada an lá. Tá mé ag iarraidh uasdátú a fháil maidir le stádas an pholasaí sin. An bhfuil an dréachtpholasaí ag an Aire agus cén uair a bheidh an polasaí foilsithe? Táimid ag fanacht le fada an lá.

I welcome the Minister's determination and that she now has an initial working draft of a policy for which we have long waited. She has given a publication date of before the end of the year. I will be holding her to that. I take a cynical attitude to this, given the background here. There has been no policy for the islands. We have had interdepartmental workforces going back to 1996, yet through that time we have had no development with regard to policy. By contrast, the islands in Scotland have a comprehensive po…

I thank the Minister, and I thank her for her visit to the islands. She is aware of the issues. My question is, are those issues reflected in the draft report that is before her? That is very important. In regard to the ongoing issues, we can learn from the islands. They have survived. They have shown us a sustainable way of living. Each Government, not just this Government, has utterly failed to deal with the islands in a just and equal way with a comprehensive report based on legislation. Housing is a major issue…

Inis Meáin.

I acknowledge that the Minister is looking at a scheme for new community centres, which is the big gap in provision, not just in new towns and rural towns but also in cities. The Newcastle action group in Galway has fought for a centre for a long time, as all Members for the area know. It has fallen between two stools, having been led in one direction via urban regeneration funding. It lost out on that, notwithstanding its brilliant application. This group is a good example of the gap in funding that needs to be me…

I call Deputy John Lahart, who is sharing time with Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan.

Just to repeat, these are allegations.

Táimid ag bogadh ar aghaidh anois go dtí an Grúpa Réigiúnach agus an Teachta Verona Murphy.

I ask the Deputy to be careful when making allegations. We are on thin ground in that regard. She is entitled to raise issues.

I ask the Deputy to be careful in what she is saying. The planning regulator has a job to do. I am not going to-----

I am not going to have an exchange with the Deputy. She is entitled to make her contribution uninterrupted by me. I am simply drawing her attention to be careful in naming people - that is all. I am not going to have an exchange with the Deputy. She may continue.

Allegedly.

We are speaking in a vacuum because we have no report before us. I welcome the opportunity to make a brief contribution. It is an extraordinary week. Yesterday we had the report on Siteserv discussed here and we saw what went on between the two angels, the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, IBRC, and Mr. O'Brien. In between we had the villains and we heard how they were just allowed to do exactly what they wanted. Here we are looking at An Bord Pleanála a week after the first judge in charge of the planning tribuna…

It does not look like it.

I will finish in 30 seconds.

I am concerned at the undermining of local democracy on a continuous basis. The strategic housing development was just the final straw in undermining local authorities, depleting them of staff and allowing staff to be moved all of the time. When they have acquired skill, suddenly they are moved. We removed the Waste Management Act. They have no power at all in relation to waste management. We have left the local authorities bereft of power and resources. We have managers in place who have corporatised according to …

I ask that we refrain from personal comments. The issues are very serious but I ask that we avoid personal comments.

The Leas-Cheann Comhairle is in the Chair at present. I am appealing to everybody.