Michael Conaghan (Dublin South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish to make a general remark in terms of pan European policies on recovery and growth. On the notion of a two-speed Europe, I get the impression that a more accurate description would be a three, four or five-speed Europe. Is a two-speed Europe an accurate description of the challenges to a pan European idea? What are the threats to recovery? Will the Minister make any comments on a particular threat to recovering growth that is represented by events in Ukraine and the factors underpinning growth and recovery that could unravel if the situation gets more serious there? On the issue of workers' rights, I did not get a chance to read the document in detail and is that included in this broader set of proposals? Is it being handled by the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, and the Minister as an integral part of the wider discussions taking place at the EPSCO Council meeting? In terms of training and education for young people - the report on apprenticeship was published here recently - how can we have an input into the review being carried out? What could we bring to the table in terms of apprenticeship and training in a new era of apprenticeship and training in light of some of the proposals in report?