Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The issue I wish to raise does not relate exactly to the subject of this presentation. I refer to the idea of increasing our proportion of manufacturing. One of the major threats to manufacturing is the fact that so much money is being funnelled towards assets, whether such assets be properties in south Dublin or assets on a stock exchange elsewhere. It is with those assets that we are competing for the location of funds. As central banks make more funds available, unfortunately, most of those funds are bypassing manufacturing - that is, the production of goods, which creates jobs and is productive in the long run - and going into assets. I ask if increasing that proportion could be part of the Minister's thinking into the future.