Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

In regard to the construction sector, to which 25% of the economy is now linked with 12% of our workforce whereas 5% is the norm in most other countries, what is the view of the cross-departmental team regarding the recommendation of the Construction Industry Federation that a cut of 50% in stamp duty is needed to re-ignite the construction sector? Was that recommendation deemed appropriate, real, unrealistic or just irrelevant?

What is the view of the cross-departmental team regarding the comments of the CIF that only 45,000 houses will be built in 2008, some 20,000 fewer than the Government has predicted? That will have serious implications for the construction sector. Arising from that, what discussions, if any, took place regarding the significance of the employment content particularly of migrant economic workers from eastern European countries who will be primarily affected by a downturn in the construction sector? Was there an assessment of how many would be likely to leave the country or how many might stay?

In regard to public private partnerships and regional development, the Ennis bypass is very welcome. The Taoiseach may have been there and seen the impact of this major piece of road. Did the cross-departmental team have any discussion with regard to the Shannon-Heathrow connection which is central to regional development? How does the removal of the Heathrow slots from Shannon to Belfast protect and defend the strategic interest of regional development, which was specifically identified by the Government? Given that the Government now states we must do extra to make up for the loss of the Heathrow slots from Shannon, what ideas were thrown around at the meeting of the cross-departmental team?

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