Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I think that when Deputy Conway-Walsh suggested positive discrimination, Mr. Power said "No", and suggested that if the investment is there now and is equal, the regions will catch up. What if the gap is so wide? I have quoted figures for the north west. Mr. Power is quite right about figures for the south east when they are disaggregated. You see the same patterns. It is not just one part of the country. I am very well aware of that. To return to positive discrimination, we heard that 64% in the first generation and 56% in the second generation is going to about 29% of the population. I know those are round figures and things that go into Dublin, such as major hospitals, may be used by people from around the country so it is not as simple as that. Nonetheless, the trend is very obvious. In that case, and because gaps are widening, would Mr. Power not see a role for positive discrimination?