Joe O'Reilly (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his very comprehensive and helpful presentation. He said at the December GAERC meeting the work for the next European Council will be set out and he listed the agenda items. Energy is the last item on the list. An issue came up in conversation with friends recently that is troubling. While we all support green energy, emission policies and the reduction in emissions it is disturbing that Europe will now be in a disadvantaged position compared to America which is continuing with a policy position that is not based on the same decisions. For example, shale fracking is taking place there. They are using traditional energy sources with great success and acquiring it cheaply. Will that not greatly disadvantage Europe in the future? If China and other major landmasses across the world are ignoring the dangers of emissions and the greenhouse gas effect, and Europe is the only area adhering to such a policy, while it is a morally sustainable position will it not put us at a huge disadvantage in terms of economic development? I am interested in a comment from the Minister of State on the matter and how we square that circle. The matter will require much consideration in the future.

The Minister of State referred to Deputy Durkan’s persistent raising of indigenous manufacturing. I presume he will wish to comment himself. I support his view that while it is very important to develop our IT sector, as there is much activity in that regard, that there is room for traditional manufacturing. We might have taken our eye off the ball in that regard. I was interested in the importance the Minister of State attached to the issue in his introductory remarks. Could he comment further? How does he envisage such development in this country and across Europe? What could we do to get ourselves more actively involved in manufacturing? We have a cohort of young people who are not able to get into the IT sector because they do not have the competencies, interest or aptitude. Many young people were displaced from construction and traditional manufacturing could appeal to them. I would be interested in hearing a comment from the Minister of State on the matter.

My constituency colleague, Senator Reilly, has done much personal work which I happily acknowledge, on the youth guarantee scheme. How is that proceeding? Is the Minister of State confident that we can get it implemented and that we will get enough money from Europe to introduce and sustain it? There is the greatest requirement and moral imperative on all of us to do something about youth unemployment.

The Minister of State referred to SME financing in the agenda items. Any of us who do constituency work know it is an enormous issue. Will he comment on how optimistic he is that we will get something practical in place or get a return so that by this time next year an SME could more readily access cash than is the case today? That is an important issue. I welcome the report of the Minister of State and the degree to which he is focused on the right issues.