Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

No, I do not see any contradiction there at all. I am sure the Deputy is as interested as I am in seeing that those who are unemployed in his constituency have an opportunity to get a job and be gainfully employed here. Whether that is by working for foreign direct investors in our country or because of indigenous investment whereby jobs are created, I am sure the Deputy would be happy either way. As regards foreign direct investment, we are interested in building on the opportunity that exists here in the hi-tech area, which is changing rapidly. Ireland has the flexibility to meet the next wave of change that is coming, whether it is in robotics, nano-technology, genetics, biotechnology or the Internet itself. Over the last dozen years or so, Ireland has measured up by having the world's best located here. We want to keep it that way.

I did not raise the US Treasury Secretary's comments because I was not aware of Professor Morgan Kelly's article at the time. I do not have the minutes of the G8 meeting. I understand that this matter was not on the agenda, but arose in side comments at that meeting.

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