Mr. John McGrane:

In response to Deputy Collin's question on specific things that can be done, let me list in no particular order some of the things that can be done. Some of them are in train so we would encourage that we work together to complete them quickly. I have alluded to the national strategic plan, we can approach the problem piece by piece or can come up a plan. We have some time to organise a national strategic plan to deal with this issue. A critical element of the plan is how to execute it, so that it does not just sit there. We have to have it fully thought through and must come up with the interface between the private sector, the State and civic society to get the plan executed line by line. Second, and this can be done right away, is to get an unambiguous message out internationally that Ireland is open for business. Many people are spinning against Ireland, against Dublin and against the regions by saying that we could not take the new business as we do not have the offices, the houses, the schools and the regulatory capacity or the second runway for that matter. We need to get out there and tell the world that we are wide open for business and the capacity that is needed for incremental business will be on-stream by the time that level of business can come here. We need to bid for other agencies in addition to what we have done already such as the European Medicines Agency and the European Banking Authority. There are many more such agencies in the United Kingdom. We should not be shy, as other European capitals are bidding for these agencies and we should bid too. We need to deliver the actual resources, such as housing. The good work has started but we need to get on with it at an even faster rate. We need to progress big infrastructure projects such as water for Dublin or a balanced water regime for Ireland as a whole that recognises that the whole country both has and needs water and to ensure that we are not thinking in the short term but in the long term as well for the future industrial policy and employment needs of the country.