James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

Huge challenges face the country. Our economy faces a prolonged slowdown, which is likely to stretch into 2012 if there is not a change of Government. Everyone is feeling the drag from the housing meltdown and the turbulence in the financial markets.

Is the Tánaiste prepared to take her head out of the sand and cope with this urgent and pressing matter, which has been called economic suicide by the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, in a decisive manner which will prioritise the economic well-being of the country, bring forward solutions to resolve the strike and convince the strikers that she will reform the system to get the economy back on track while protecting the workers?

With the Taoiseach predicting that half a million people will be out of work by the end of year, can the Tánaiste justify - other than in her prepared response to my question - the havoc this strike will unleash on business, farming and the construction, tourism and other industries, and the human suffering the resulting unemployment will cause across the country? The strike is affecting hospitals and the new terminal at Dublin Airport, which will have a huge impact on the tourism industry. It is also affecting the roll-out of broadband and several other industries.

It is a matter of urgent priority for the Tánaiste to take action and bring about a solution to this problem as soon as possible. The Irish construction industry is already on its knees. Can the Tánaiste condone the Government's action, which has affected both the electricians and the wider building sector, which will be forced to lay off workers to the detriment of the industry and workers and their families?

I have every sympathy with the electricians' grievances, which are part of the spiralling cutbacks in wages and jobs which have their source in the Government's reckless overheating of the economy. Will the Tánaiste set out an action plan in terms of a real stimulus package with initiatives across the country to solve the present impasse with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and give the country some hope? The country needs hope urgently. I plead with the Tánaiste to give young people and the unemployed real hope for the future. The country cannot sustain 500,000 people out of work by the end of this year. I plead with the Tánaiste to take whatever actions are possible to solve this impasse.

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