Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I apologise if the points I make were covered earlier. The Minister of State referred to the four priorities of Greece's Presidency which are growth, jobs and cohesion; further integration of the EU and eurozone; migration, borders and mobility; and maritime policies. I do not believe anyone would have any difficulty with any of those priorities. We previously mentioned the disconnect people have with the European Union and the entire European project to a certain extent. Among those countries, including Ireland, which have had difficulties in recent years there is a certain solidarity and a realisation that the EU as a body needs to roll up its sleeves and give more support to such countries.

Given that the Greeks hold the Presidency, one would like to believe there will be a greater urgency with many of the issues that need to be addressed.

The Minister of State referred to jobs. Anyone following this debate will be asking what it means for them in simple terms. Will it mean more jobs and, if so, what type of jobs? We are talking about growth, but what type of growth? If it does not mean jobs or that the inequalities which exist are addressed or that the difficulties people have in their lives will improve, what does it mean? I suppose it is rather like the case of those who were left behind during the Celtic tiger era. They did not get the bounce. People are wondering whether this will be the same. We hear all the time about green shoots and Europe turning a corner and so on. Last night, Ms Christine Lagarde made a speech about how positive things were and the great things the IMF did. The reality in many areas is that people are not seeing growth or jobs or anything new on the horizon. They do not see the task force on jobs and so on. Many of us take the view that the only way we are really going to stimulate growth is through a package of measures that will include spending and creating jobs.

I imagine the Greeks have similar views about the write-down. The Minister of State referred to institutional churn and transition. He said that if there is to be major movement, it would be at the start of the year. How does the Minister of State see that developing in respect of jobs?

Migration was mentioned. Some of us were at a meeting on Friday attended by people from many countries, including Libya, Egypt and Tunisia as well as bordering countries. They commented on the difficulties they have with people coming from conflict zones, who arrive in Europe in countries such as Greece and Bulgaria and other countries that have been mentioned. There is a lack of solidarity between the south and the north in respect of the difficulties these people have. Some of these people are having serious difficulties in trying to get growth and jobs, and vast numbers of people are fleeing conflict. Will that be a priority? What sense does the Minister of State have in this regard? Does it make a difference that the Greeks have the Presidency? People are disillusioned about the lack of solidarity in the economic sphere and certainly this applies to the area of migration as well. Certain states are carrying the burden. Others, like ourselves, are on the periphery of Europe. There is an issue in terms of population and the number of people coming to Ireland. Many people have a major difficulty with that. The Minister of State will be aware from his constituency, as am I from mine, that people do not understand and it is characterised as a case of more people coming in and taking from the same pot. Certain countries within Europe are carrying the burden of people fleeing conflict. People are looking for a new economic future for their own children and so on. What sense does the Minister of State have of the issues in respect of the Greek Presidency?