Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was delighted for him and for Spurs. I apologise for being late. The British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly will meet in London this weekend. We will bring together politicians from Stormont, the Oireachtas, the House of Commons, Scotland, Wales and the devolved areas. It will involve a lot of good work. I was off with officials and all my colleagues to be briefed. I am sorry to be late.

On the Sunday of the event, the Minister for further and higher education, Deputy Lawless, will talk about developing research, innovation and skills. It could be quite an appropriate subject. If there is anything the witnesses feel that I or my colleagues should raise, I ask them to let us know. It could be opportune.

Before politics, I had a hospitality background. We lost our way over the years, but we are now in a much better place. The target for apprentices has doubled from 5,000 to 10,000 and funding has been allocated by the Minister. That will help. When I was a Minister of State with responsibility for drugs strategy in the Department of Health, it was a pleasure to go the apprentice graduation ceremonies. There was great confidence, joy and pride among the mammies and daddies, families and partners. We have come an awfully long way. The witnesses have worked with the various stakeholders to ensure that happens. We can do a lot more, but we are in a much better place than we were ten years ago. I thank the witnesses for the work they do. They are the future. I used to always say when I was giving out certificates that I hoped the graduates would make a fortune. A trade is something useful. It is also a passport to working abroad for a few years, after which people may want to come back. I thank the witnesses for the great work they have done and for coming here today. I am sorry I was late. I have copies of their statements. Is there anything the witnesses think we should raise at the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly? If they want to send on an email, I would be happy to read it.