Chairman:

The Minister might allow me to ask a question as well. Deputy Bríd Smith also asked earlier to be allowed to ask a supplementary question, which I will allow. Thereafter, we must move on to programme B, because we have gone way over time on this section.

The Minister made reference to the regional areas and coming from County Waterford, I wish to mention Waterford and the south east. As everyone is aware, the unemployment figures for Waterford and the south east are running close to 12% and are approximately 4% to 5% above the national average. In the first three months of 2016, the region bucked the trend when its unemployment rate rose by 0.6%. I welcome both the Minister's recent visit to Waterford for the opening of se2 and her return to Waterford in the near future. As Deputy Quinlivan stated, I would love to see the Minister in Waterford and the south-east region every week of the year. I seek the Minister's thoughts in this regard and on what the IDA is doing in that particular region. I acknowledge the Minister spoke about infrastructure and an airport and as all members are aware, there is trouble in respect of Waterford Airport where there have been no flights in or out for the past three months. I am sure this will have an effect in the future. I ask the Minister to answer those two questions, after which I will allow Deputy Bríd Smith to ask her supplementary question.