Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputies for their contributions. This has been an important debate, not least because population and migration are not issues we consider every day. These CSO figures show Ireland at a turning point. They also give us cause to reflect on how we should build a sustainable future for both citizens and business. I am not convinced that it is useful in this context to distinguish between the concept of society and of economy. In reality, both are intertwined as society benefits from sound and fair economic policies. Some Deputies are concerned about planning for skill shortages. We have recently sanctioned €27 million in funding for FÁS, for the expansion of training for people in employment. Moreover, the expert group on future skills will assist us with its analysis in planning for the future, particularly in respect of the higher skills area. The population and employment figures give us cause to reflect on the future.

I want to describe some of our strategies for future prosperity and to outline where I believe the sources of our competitive advantages will lie in future years. Education has always played a vital role in the broad cultural, social and economic life of this country. We no longer simply compete for capital and investment but are now competing for people and knowledge. Governments around the world are wrestling with these challenges where the geography of science and knowledge knows no boundaries. I believe the development of the knowledge economy and the factors that will underpin it to be one of the major challenges and opportunities facing Ireland. The task of making our vision a reality requires investment. The Government will lead that investment and ensure that within the next decade, Ireland becomes an internationally renowned centre for research which generates and uses new knowledge for social progress.

The transformation revealed by these figures shows we have provided all our citizens with the opportunity to live and work here and emigration is no longer a necessity. Growth and prosperity have provided the country with a new-found confidence, while enterprise has the capacity to invest for the future and the confidence to be less risk averse. The latest 12 month employment figures show that in the year to May, the economy created a further 93,000 jobs. This is the highest annual growth rate in five years, while unemployment is less than half the EU average. Long-term unemployment has been reduced by 70%. Cautious management of success has sustained and will sustain our ability to make sustainable growth achievable.

The long period of prosperity has helped society. Life chances have consistently improved as growth has opened more varied opportunities for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups in many different aspects of the country. Indeed, work continues in this respect. This morning, I had the pleasure of launching a report by the National Economic and Social Forum on allowing access to the workplace to people who hitherto have been disadvantaged. We have recommendations with regard to the forum on the workplace of the future and I am delighted to chair the high level group which will try to ensure we build on the enormous successes achieved over the last ten to 15 years and that in so doing, we manage to include all participants in society.

Sometimes it is important to pause momentarily to reflect on what one is doing correctly. One hears enough about what one is supposed to be doing wrongly. We can be justly proud of the achievements over the past decade. There is no greater indicator of success than being a sought-after location in which to work and live. The total migration flow to Ireland in the 12 months to April 2005 is estimated to be 70,000, the highest figure on record since migration estimates began in 1987. As a corollary, emigration is at its lowest since then.

The challenge now is one of preparing for the prosperity of the next generation and to manage the transformation of our economy through that process. As always, this demands hard choices, as we must simultaneously seek to further improve the life chances for all our citizens, not simply those in employment. From the Government's perspective, a successful society needs a dynamic economy, which constantly responds to the evolving demands of international competitiveness. We have proved that we can meet this challenge and intend to continue to do so.

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