Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

This motion sets out clear measures to deal with what is the biggest challenge confronting us today, unemployment. These measures are about creating jobs and securing existing employment. It is very regrettable that the Government has simply refused to take on board the measures that can make a real difference. We are talking about facilitating enterprise and ensuring that there is investment and assistance for existing businesses.

I represent a constituency where unemployment has now reached 11,000. In the town of Bray the level is over 4,500 and the system is breaking down. As Deputy Stagg has pointed out, people's entitlements are not getting to them, for weeks and weeks, because the social welfare system simply cannot cope. We need to see action on the ground.

I listened with interest to the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, last night talking about the money for enterprise centres. We do not have an enterprise centre in Bray and I want to challenge the Minister of State to put his money where his mouth is. We need an enterprise centre and we have a surfeit of empty factory space and I will believe him when we can actually see that type of measure being implemented on the ground, as it is crucially important.

We have an issue as regards broadband, not just locally but nationally. Unless the Government confronts the issue of Eircom we are not going to make the leap forward that is needed regarding the next generation of networks and in relation to competing globally in the telecommunications area. Even though the Minister shies away from this time and again, I would recommend that he now establishes a forum of the key players in the telecommunications area to come to conclusions on how the State can involve itself in a productive efficient manner to ensure that Eircom can deliver in terms of the essential infrastructure we currently lack.

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