Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

We should be able to continue this debate tomorrow, by agreement. Although it is extremely important, it was ruled out due to time constraints. I will be brief.

I have four supplementary questions. First, in the Taoiseach's view, how realistic is the prospect of a ten-year national partnership agreement? Second, the Department of Finance's economic review and outlook published in August 2005 outlined some sobering matters for the economy. It referred to a sharp fall-off in exports, industrial productivity faltering and a stream of job losses in traditional manufacturing. What assurances can the Taoiseach give the House that these issues will be priorities on the agenda of the talks? Third, the same report states clearly that the economy relies heavily on the construction industry and on consumer spending. What arrangements has the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment made to ensure that these two issues will be central to the partnership talks?

Fourth, the NESC's strategy report for 2006 was published on 15 December. It clearly referred to the scale of immigration to Ireland and noted that immigration adds almost as much again to the rate of population growth as does natural increase and that, obviously, this temporarily improves the age dependency ratio. Arising from that report and given that such workers are welcome here, does the Taoiseach not agree that there is now a desperate need for an integrated immigration policy which will speed up the asylum process, root out exploitation and work to prevent the potential for conflict between national and non-national workers before it takes place?

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