Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I hear exactly what he is saying. I accept and welcome the fact that there is expenditure in our region. We are, however, talking about the equivalent of Google leaving Dublin. The reality is that while the public expenditure is very welcome, it will not deal with a problem of the scale in question, not only in terms of the imminent threat to the economy but also in terms of the long-term outlook. All we have to do is consider what happened in the valleys in Wales, which have become a rust bucket. The same is happening in the United States. The Minister will have seen the impact on the coal areas in the United States. From his Council of Ministers colleagues, he will have heard about the political challenges faced in the coal regions right across Europe in dealing with this issue.

We have an opportunity in Ireland to lead by example and to show how we can provide that just transition. However, to do that, we all must accept that we need to stimulate private sector investment across those counties as well. We cannot solely rely on public sector expenditure in those areas to protect the many jobs that will be impacted. We need to drive innovation and support the growth in employment in local small businesses.

I am asking that we would have a report to see how we could provide some innovative support. I do not want a situation where, for argument's sake, we take funding or investment away from north Tipperary and bring it to County Offaly. That is not my intention. I am not talking about a major differential. The reality, however, is that the employment investment incentive currently applies to the city of Dublin, where we need to calm down the economy and not add to the problems of congestion, housing, office accommodation and, now, even water, given that the Dublin area is experiencing in terms of water quality what we experienced for six years on the trot without any break. Those infrastructure challenges that are in Dublin do not exist to the same scale in the midlands. However, we require investors who want to invest to look to the midlands first. I am suggesting that we nuance that support to ensure people would consider that first.

I do not believe I am being unfair in asking for a report to look at the potential options. This happened in the past. While I accept mistakes were made in the past, some very good decisions were made as well. Very close to us here in Dublin, I think of the Irish Financial Services Centre, IFSC, which was established on that very basis of geography. We should not throw the baby out with the bathwater. I ask the Minister to reconsider this amendment in advance of Report Stage.