Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

I support the request by Senator Hannigan for a debate on emigration. I want to address in particular the attitude and views the Tánaiste has in this regard in light of comments she made on the BBC last night. Speaking about Irish people who are going abroad, she said in that debate, "There are people who have greater acumen academically, and there are people who have found work in other parts of the world, and that is not a bad thing".

Since when has it been a good thing to be exporting our best and brightest who possess an education that we have paid for, and who want to work at home? She went on to say: "Some of them, fine, want to enjoy themselves. That is what young people are entitled to do." I challenge the Tánaiste to go to any of these airports from which our young people are leaving and find those who are enjoying themselves, as they leave the country in which they were born and for whom emigration is an "entitlement". She concluded by saying, "We have a lot of people, young people, who have decided they will go to other parts of the world to gain experience".

These young people are not deciding. The decision has been made for them. At a time when I hear people talk about the role of the Tánaiste in relation to the discussion that is taking place today with Ryanair, these comments on emigration show me the attitude she and her Department have towards our young people. Emigration is not an entitlement, it is not enjoyment. It is about the fact that we have 20,000 young people under the age of 25 signing on for the dole in Dublin, and two thirds of young people are signing on in Limerick. The Tánaiste believes that emigration is a legitimate response for dealing with those people. It is a catastrophe, not a policy.