Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

For the past ten years I have listened to predictions of doom and gloom by Opposition colleagues, even though more than 2 million people are at work, the highest number in the history of the State. I acknowledge there will be a downturn, mainly due to the correction in the house building industry. However, 80,000 were employed in this industry and approximately 6,000 have been laid off. Commercial property construction is holding up. For example, a new power station is being built by the ESB in Whitegate in my constituency, which will employ more than 700 people. Bord Gais is building a power station in Aghada, which is nearby, and it will employ another 450. Workers leaving the house building industry will take up these jobs. It will be interesting to see how people who have travelled to Ireland from other parts of Europe to work in the construction industry will react. There is evidence of a reduction in the net number of immigrants in the past year and manufacturing industry is holding up.

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