Margaret Conlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I agree with the Opposition motion's opening statement that getting the economy back on track must be the number one priority. It is the number one priority for the Government. Its recovery programme is built on four steps which include protecting jobs, improving competitiveness and assisting those who have lost their job so they can return to work.

The reality the Opposition continues to neglect is that nearly every economy in the developed world is struggling to cope with the global economic downturn. Ireland, along with many others, is suffering from a fear among investors and consumers, which in turn is feeding a lack of confidence among these two key groups. Our GNP is projected to experience its sharpest decline on record this year, contracting by 8%. Our economic growth rate, however, is forecasted to turn positive by 2011. This is a long time away, not the instant solution people, including me, want. However, economies go through cycles of negative downturns and positive growth; sadly, we are in the former.

In the interim, we must continue to pursue appropriate policies to have the economy in an optimum position to benefit from the global recovery when it comes. Our many strengths include a highly skilled labour force, wage flexibility in both the public and private sectors, work practices being amended and reductions in costs. We are also maintaining capital spending at a high level by international standards, a vital move.

We must continue to enhance our economic competitiveness. The tough measures taken by the Government in recent months are designed to address our present difficulties. While we would prefer not to have taken these measures, not doing so would have been an abdication of our duty as the elected representatives to govern. The Government is committed to continuing to take the necessary difficult decisions to achieve this goal.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment highlighted the strengths of the economy when she referred to statistics from the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2009. The doom and gloom merchants of the Opposition benches neglected to state our trade performance is still strong and our exports show continued strength. Many of our export-orientated companies are flourishing. We simply must strengthen their potential.

We must acknowledge unemployment is a major factor, being the number one issue in the recent local and European elections. The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment pointed out, however, that last month more than 16,500 people came off the live register because they found work, a glimmer of positive news.

No longer can one expect to have a job for life. We must up-skill those who lost their jobs or are at risk of losing their jobs. Up-skilling must now be the norm rather than exception. People's skills must be harnessed in a different direction. The ideas campaign spearheaded by Aileen O'Toole and her business partner, Fiachra Ó Marcaigh, was a superb initiative which I urge the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and other Ministers to consider.

As for someone with a business idea, there should be a one-stop-shop help desk for start-ups, with advice on issues such as legal, human resources, patent and accountancy matters. Instead, people go to their county enterprise boards but are referred to Enterprise Ireland, the rural development programme or some other agency. The multiplicity of agencies must be streamlined because at present, people are being sent from Billy to Jack, when such support must be centralised in one location in order that potential future entrepreneurs receive all available assistance, as they must be able to access the relevant supports. If they are directed in the right way in a timely manner, they will be in a position to turn ideas into tangible projects that will turn into jobs.

Approximately, 2,500 new businesses are registered in Ireland every month. Last Monday, I heard news headlines to the effect that 38 new jobs had been created. Five years ago, such an item would not have made it into the headlines. Such jobs are important and although all jobs are important, be it a single job or half a job, they do not always make the headlines. In conclusion, as there is plenty of work to be done in the business community, locally by individuals in communities and finally by the Government, let us get on with it. Ireland, despite the gloom and doom, is still a good place to do business and is still open for business.

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