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

I do not know whether Deputy Rabbitte will be released to attend. If he is, he might give my apologies because I am not being let out.

I am trying to be positive about today because life goes on. It has been a very gloomy week in the Dáil as I said last night. At the same time we need to be upbeat about some aspects and we need to keep going about our business. If it is difficult being a Fianna Fáil Deputy in Dublin South-West at the moment, as far as I am concerned I still need to do my job and that is what I will do.

In that context I was reading The Echo with my breakfast this morning, as I do. It reminded me that I attended the opening of a new restaurant, Kennedy's restaurant in High Street. For some strange reason three restaurants have opened in High Street in Tallaght since Christmas, two Chinese restaurants and now Kennedy's.

I do not deny that things are difficult but if that is not good news, I do not know what is. It is important to state this even from the Government benches. In my political and community life, I have always tried to be positive about my constituency and the need for job creation. Tallaght is the third largest population centre in the country and the wider Dublin South-West region needs investment and jobs. Over the past couple of weeks, one has been afraid to say anything in this House unless it is about the need for jobs in Limerick — which is fair enough. I note there was a lot of talk at the weekend about the need for employment in Donegal which is also fair enough. Every Deputy in this House will speak with passion about his or her own constituency but I am not afraid to talk passionately about Dublin South-West and it is important to continue to do so.

A number of colleagues have referred to the excellent work of the Oireachtas Library research service, and I know others have suggested that it should be abolished, but last week the research service published a number of constituency profiles and I read those relating to Wexford — where I have family connections. Of particular interest was the profile on Dublin South-West.

I wish to highlight both the mixed messages and also the positive messages which are recorded in respect of my constituency:

This profile is based on the Census of Population 2006...The profile reveals that Dublin South-West has a number of notable differences when compared to the State as a whole. These include: The average age of the population in Dublin South-West is below the national average and the share of the population aged 65 years and older is well below the national average.

My constituency has a very young population. The profile further states:

People in Dublin South-West are slightly more likely to have left education earlier and with fewer qualifications than people nationally.

This is an aspect which should be of concern. The profile further states:

People in Dublin South-West are more likely to be at work than the national average. They are much less likely to have retired.

This is a very interesting fact which may come as a surprise to many. The profile further states:

The share of the Dublin South-West workforce in professional occupations is well below average and Dublin South-West people are more likely to work in clerical and transport occupations.

Households in Dublin South-West are more likely to have access to a computer and broadband Internet access than households nationally.

I acknowledge the many calls I and many other colleagues are receiving. Overnight, I have received calls from workers in Tallaght who work for the county council, the hospital or various agencies. I am listening to what they are saying and I will certainly represent their views.

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