Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I welcome the opportunity to participate in this important debate on the Lisbon national reform programme. Before I go into the details of this issue, I want to set down two markers regarding the Lisbon proposals. We are all wasting our time if we fail to tackle, first, the issue of low pay and, second, social and political disadvantage. These must be the two core issues in any programme dealing with radical change in Irish society and in other countries. Integrated guidelines for growth and jobs must look after the weaker sections of society and narrow the gap between rich and poor.

Poverty and low pay should not be a reality in a country like ours, which has the lowest unemployment level in the European Union, the second lowest national debt and the highest investment on infrastructure. Despite these positive aspects in our economy, it is a scandal there are people on trolleys in our accident and emergency departments, children cannot get speech or occupational therapy services and young couples cannot buy a house of their own. We must address those fundamental issues but the large political parties in power for the past ten years have failed miserably to do so. Successive Governments have failed also to address the needs of our people. I challenge the Government on this issue. Our people are crying out for reforms and more effective use of the resources and wealth we have created in this society.

In parts of the northside of Dublin, for example, there are estates where 52% of children under the age of four are not prepared or ready for primary school. The day they start school, the odds are stacked against them and hence the urgent need for quality pre-school and child care services. That is referred to on page 39, section 463 of the report. I welcome the Minister to the House but we need action on those issues.

There is also an urgent need for investment. I recommend that children from disadvantaged backgrounds be prioritised in the roll-out of any new child care initiatives. There is a need for additional funding for community early years services catering for disadvantaged communities to adequately cover both pay and non-pay costs. This requires either a unified funding scheme under one Department or an integrated scheme set up between a number of Departments but with a single unified application and appraisal system. A distinct stream of funding should be developed for the development and provision of all the school services, to include pay and costs. These are important issues in this debate.

In dealing with our priorities, I accept we must maintain a stable macro-economic environment, sustainable public finances and moderate inflation levels. I also accept we must remain alert to external risk factors, such as oil prices and exchange rate developments. We must also monitor the high dependency on construction sector activity which can provide a sharp shock to the system. We must also promote, protect and enhance competitiveness. I stress, however, we do not need a right wing economic agenda.

We also need to encourage greater innovation and entrepreneurship across the enterprise sector and continue to roll out reform. Above all, however, we must support social inclusion and sustainable developments. These are important factors and issues in this debate. We must also continue to achieve higher levels of employment, improved quality and productivity of work and social cohesion, which are important issues. We must focus on education and training, including lifelong learning to develop a high-skilled, innovative and adaptable workforce for the knowledge economy. We must also ensure an adequate labour supply to meet the economy's needs. I emphasise that we are talking about a society and not just an economy. These are the central issues of any strong economy and they are very important.

It is important also that when discussing the development of the country, particularly in regard to the EU, we must accept the reality that developing the peace process on the island of Ireland is an important strategy in terms of both the political implications but also the social and economic development of the island. I welcome the opportunity to participate in this debate but I urge the Ministers involved to target the resources to the most needy in our society.

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