Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to cut to the chase in the time remaining. Given that investment may increase or decrease this year, what is required? The majority of the people in Ireland are employed in the domestic economy. If we are to deal with the issue of unemployment, the key driver will come from the domestic economy. FDI is extremely important in providing employment but how do we get to the point where consumption increases, the domestic economy recovers and the banks lend for entrepreneurial projects? The banks will lend for a gilt edged project but we have to create an entrepreneurial culture so that people create employment. We seem to face the same question every year. We are dealing with people in the domestic economy who employ three, four or ten staff. They are struggling. We have had the macro discussion but I want to get to the real discussion. In the opinion of the witnesses, who are the experts in this area - I will not call them prima donnas but I want them to act as such for five minutes - and what is required to get the domestic economy going again? We have plastered the walls but now we want to put furniture in the rooms. That is a matter of putting people into jobs. The house is built and the walls are stabilised, which is great. What do we have to do to get lift off in the domestic economy?