Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I will have to re-read the draft national reform programme for Ireland for 2014 as it is a comprehensive document. Everyone in the country should read it as it gives a clear and concise account of what the Government is doing on a range of issues and it is a very important document.
Considering that we have had engagement with the troika, does the Minister of State expect any surprise in the country specific recommendations or have these issues been dealt with? The five priorities for member states to be followed in the annual growth survey include modernising public administration, tackling unemployment, promoting growth and competitiveness, pursuing growth friendly fiscal consolidation and have been encompassed in the budgets we have introduced. Lending to the economy and SMEs continues to be a priority. Even though the pillar banks state they are following the targets set by the Government, anecdotally, businesses and SMEs state they are not. Does the Minister of State think there is a role for credit unions, notwithstanding some of the problems that arose in that sector in recent years? In general, they have a strong record and it is an issue that has often been raised with me.
A number of members referred to the need for a regional balance. When I was a member of the county council for seven or eight years at the height of the Celtic tiger when there was inward investment, the debate was about having a regional balance, not to mention within the country. Certainly, in terms of foreign direct investment, the phrase used was "critical mass of population" in the sense that large companies wanted to locate in Galway or any other city, rather than the regions. There is a challenge in that regard, but given that 50% of the population is in Leinster, there is a concern that this figure will continue to grow. Notwithstanding what Deputy Joe O'Reilly said about better road and public infrastructure nationally, there is ongoing concern about what is seen as a regional imbalance.
A number of contributors mentioned climate change and commented on yesterday's UN report which received much publicity and worrying commentary, some of which was based on estimates of the increases in global temperatures, ranging from 1.5° to much higher levels, and their impact and consequences. The issue of nuclear energy has been mentioned, while the single energy market was commented on at a meeting of the jobs committee. That is an important issue because the cost of electricity in Europe vis-à-vis our competitors in the United States is a concern. I am wondering about the progress made in dealing with the issue of a single energy market, bearing in mind the reliance of some countries on imported gas supplies from Russia. Obviously, we are all aware of the concerns about developments in that part of the world.
On the issue of tackling unemployment, the construction sector is a source of major concern. We have moved from an over-reliance on that sector during the Celtic tiger era to high rates of unemployment in it. It is evident that there is an increasing need for houses, particularly in the greater Dublin area and, possibly, some urban areas also. I hope there will be ongoing initiatives to promote housing construction within these areas.