Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome this opportunity to briefly contribute to this serious and important debate. In his absence, I compliment Deputy Penrose, my good friend and colleague, on his work in this regard.

I am delighted the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, is present in the Chamber. Those of us who strongly believe in social inclusion and that the vulnerable and the disadvantaged should be looked after are confident she will show sufficient care to ensure they are well looked after next week. The Minister will have a demanding week next week and I wish her well and have great confidence in what she will do and will continue to do. Fianna Fáil has had a proud record of achievement in the provision of social welfare benefits, on which I am sure even Deputy Penrose will agree, over the decades, long before many of us Members were elected. We continue to strive for such provision.

If one was to listen to the RTE News or Sky News today, one might be afraid to get out of bed because of the changes in the world and the difficulties we face. Many Members spoke about the difficulties in the 1980s and I remember the 1980s; I can vaguely remember the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s but I certainly remember the 1980s. I bring to politics my life experiences. I was made redundant three times in my life and I know what it is like to go home to one's family and tell them that one has been made redundant and has to start all over again. I am glad I have that experience and I understand the concerns of the people who come to see me.

I remember being a founder member, with many other colleagues, of the Get Tallaght Working Group in 1984. That was a time when Tallaght, the third largest population centre in the country, needed jobs, impetus, investment and for things to happen, and thank God that has happened. Like other major centres, considerable progress in job creation has been made in recent times, but now we face challenges.

I was glad to hear the Minister of State, Deputy Devins, talk about the contribution enterprise boards can make. We all know that the best way out of poverty is to make sure people have jobs. I quoted the former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, many times in this respect, namely, when the big boats are rising, we must remember the little boats, but if the big boats are struggling, we absolutely must remember the little boats. Every Deputy will talk about the job creation needs of their constituencies, with which I have no problem. I live in Tallaght in Dublin South-West, which is a major population centre. We have needs in that regard and I am never afraid to point them out.

The Minister of State, Deputy Devins, was correct in that in areas where big jobs cannot be created, enterprise boards and organisations such as Partas in Tallaght have a clear role to play, through the enterprise centres, to create employment. The Minister of State made a very positive statement, but I advise him that the county enterprise boards always face challenges. There are a few changes that could be made in that respect. In the context of the remit of the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, I hope the services her Department and that of the Tánaiste provide will continue to be client friendly.

I record that the Minister spoke about the fine contribution the enterprise boards make in south Dublin, but people within the organisation advise me that the enterprise boards throughout the country — this is certainly true in Tallaght — should be given the ability to assist companies that are in trouble. They should also be allowed to help those companies in relation to their size because that issue is still a difficulty and there are still restrictions in that respect.

I am also advised by people who go to enterprise boards seeking to create jobs that it would be helpful if county enterprise boards were allowed to give guarantees to companies to help secure bank loans. They are not able to do that. I am advised, as confirmed by information down-loaded from the Internet by a colleague today, that this is done through the Small Business Association in the United States. That is an issue that should be addressed.

These are difficult times and people of my generation have lived through difficult times before. We have to keep going, keep investing and make sure that the vulnerable are looked after. I look forward to continuing to support that.

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