Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Secretary General and officials from the Department and wish them well in the Presidency and in their efforts on job creation.

Youth unemployment is a Europe-wide problem. We have heard about it in countries like Spain and Greece but the figures from Sweden are a surprise, where there is up to 24% youth unemployment. The issue is clearly linked to the global problems in finance and banking.

On the reform of state aid, ESB, An Post and Telecom Éireann were vital services. Today broadband is as vital and I welcome Commissioner Almunia's report that states the revision of several state aid frameworks in strategic areas such as regional aid, environmental aid, risk capital and broadband are being looked at. Was Ireland pushing for these changes in broadband, in particular, because despite the national broadband plan, there are still wide areas of rural Ireland where there are problems that could be directly addressed by state aid?

What record does Ireland have in terms of procurement of services across the EU? Do continental countries have greater chances of procuring services from neighbouring countries within the EU?

If there is a mandate for the EU-US summit, what are the inherent dangers for Ireland from such a free trade agreement?