Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will add to what the Minister for Finance said. He spoke about the overall position we are in with regard to receipts and surpluses. The truth is that other countries all over the world would look at the position we are in with envy. It underlines the importance of us making the right decisions for our people now and in the future. Wherever the Minister, other Government colleagues and I travel abroad, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland always have a series of meetings lined up for us to meet target clients and to help Irish companies to build new connections and open new market opportunities. That is the kind of work that we will continue to do because we know it makes a real difference to our country and our economic performance.

I acknowledge the Deputy's points about the north-west region. We are deeply committed as a Government to achieving a better balance in overall regional development. We recognise its importance. We have seen population growth in every part of Ireland and all parts of the regions in the past number of years. That looks set to continue. Our investment in the national broadband plan is opening significant opportunities and providing connectivity and remote working hubs in towns and villages all over Ireland. We have major investment in urban centres through the urban regeneration and development fund, we have the rural regeneration and development fund, town and village renewal scheme and many more capital investment projects through the NDP that the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, is implementing. Those agencies, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, have specific plans and strategies to assist the north-west region to meet its economic potential. I acknowledge the points the Deputy made. I reassure him of the Government's full support to achieve the objective that he has set out. We will continue to work with him in that regard.