Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I am learning on my feet.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to address this motion and to do so from a positive perspective. Ireland's competitive performance is, quite frankly, solid. We have many competitive strengths that are often ignored, underplayed or minimised. We have heard many of the negative aspects in this debate yet there is hardly any recognition from the Opposition of how far we have come, let alone of the distinctive competitive capacity we have developed in many areas over the past few years.

For example, I heard comments in the house that our indigenous sector is neglected. This displays an amazing lack of understanding of the wide-ranging restructuring that has taken place within Enterprise Ireland to design new programmes so our important SME sector can adapt, innovate and grow in the context of globalisation.

Almost all of the activities of the Irish economy are ultimately validated by the international marketplace and its impact on jobs, growth and prosperity. Since 1994, our exports have grown at a rate twice that of the European Union and three times that of total world trade. Our export growth is among the highest in the OECD. Seven of the world's top ten ICT companies have a substantial base in Ireland. Thirteen of the top 15 pharmaceutical companies in the world have substantial operations in Ireland. Eight of the top ten software suppliers in the world have operations here. We have created more jobs in the past ten years than in any similar time in our history.

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