Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

This must be for many, certainly young people below 40 years of age in particular, the most extraordinary of times in living and work experience memory. Over this past week and more, we have seen both the media and the political establishment focused on the proposition on what to all intents and purposes is a minor reshuffle of junior Ministers. We must take on board and recognise that while that dominates political commentary in the front pages of our newspapers today, the truth is that the overwhelming mass of ordinary people do not give a tuppence for what happens in the political careers of either members of the Government or any of the Opposition voices at this point in time. What they are looking to this House for is a clear strategy to get them out of the current difficulties.

On the proposition before us, where we are being asked to accept without debate proposals on Revised Estimates, the people are anxiously waiting for a clear statement of intent on the part of Government on job retention and creation. Those are the critical elements missing from the Government's address of the current crisis for months despite repeated appeals from voices here on the Opposition benches. It is galling that in these circumstances we are being asked to adopt these proposals without debate. The people want real debate and real focus on what can be done, what measures the Tánaiste and her colleagues at the Cabinet table are taking to ensure that existing jobs are saved and there is the prospect of a light at the end of the tunnel because currently none is showing.

Regarding SR Technics, we have already lost 600 key technical jobs in that organisation, with some of them offered relocation in Zurich.

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