Mary White (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As Senator Quinn will concur, Government and Opposition parties in the Seanad agree on the issues of jobs, bank lending and the availability of money. We in Fianna Fáil were in office for most of the recession but we must stay on our toes and reduce the numbers unemployed. Unemployment is a scourge. There is a brain drain.

I was disappointed to learn that county and city enterprise boards, CEBs, were being merged with local authorities. If adequate leadership is provided, however, it could be good. Mr. Trethowan referred to viewing local authorities as one-stop-shops, in that people knew where they could get information on available schemes, etc. It could work and I am coming around to the idea. If the Enterprise Ireland contacts who deal with local management are missionaries and visionaries for employment creation, it could work. If they are bureaucrats, it will not. I will be optimistic.

Last week, I attended a Fianna Fáil breakfast in Dún Laoghaire. Deputy Michael McGrath, our finance spokesperson, addressed it. Many business people from the area also attended. They pleaded that the budget not add further costs to companies. Will the Government increase the cost of employment? It is a serious issue.

Mr. Talbot and his colleagues should keep up the good work. It is excellent.