Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

It is also about ensuring that we train and educate and are ready for the upturn.

There are many very good news stories out there. When one thinks that Intel and Microsoft let 11,000 people go throughout the world, out of that number only 17 jobs were lost in this country. That says a great deal about us having the right skills for those companies. No jobs are to be lost in Ireland in Intel. That is a great commitment by Intel to this country. Only a small number will be lost in Microsoft which also employs thousands in this country. There is a real message for us in this. Using this time to upskill, educate and train, and to do so in the skills that are needed by these companies, can help us to benefit from future investment. We have all the other assets, such as the young workforce, our corporation tax rate and our involvement in Europe. This is a good opportunity.

There is much hope and I believe that is why people sat around the table yesterday and agreed to, at least, a framework for the pact. A question was asked about who are the people who are agreeing this. Obviously, the Government is the leader, in addition to the political leaders of this country. The social partners represent employers, employees, community groups and voluntary groups. Every interest is at heart, including every other leader in the Oireachtas who has a contribution to make. In particular, there is every person out there today who is willing to make a sacrifice to help others. Everybody one meets these days says "yes, we are willing to do it". They are willing to take the pain.

It is in that spirit of renewal that new hope can come with the beginning of this new year albeit that things are very difficult for many people. They are particularly difficult for the over 300,000 people who have come onto the live register, having lost their jobs across a range of areas, particularly during the past year. We talk very often about the people who worked in the construction industry because it is more visible than others. However, there are those who worked in associated areas, such as furniture making or hardware, people who were architects, solicitors or engineers. For these people and their families it is very difficult. I am conscious that many of them have never had to access social welfare in the past and would never have had any contact with social welfare offices. We have changed many of our processes and have brought in 115 extra staff. I have requested more staff and I am very anxious to ensure that we deal with these people and treat them with the dignity and speed they deserve. I know there are delays in some offices. In very many others we are ensuring that the processing times are kept low. Two and a half weeks is now the average processing time for jobseeker's benefit——

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