Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

The Tánaiste outlined the responses made by the Government and her Department to the task force recommendations. No Member has a patent or copyright on understanding the difficulties unemployment causes to families and communities. Every Deputy is fully aware of these difficulties and none of us needs a lecture at this difficult time for those who are being made redundant. The problem affects everybody, including the sister of a person working in my office who will be let go from Dell tomorrow. We are all keenly aware of the problem.

What we must try to do is deal with the recommendations in the report. The Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea, outlined some of the responses to the recommendations, noting that action is being taken in Limerick. We must also consider this issue against the backdrop of international developments, rising unemployment and difficulties in securing foreign direct investment. The IDA is proactively chasing foreign direct investment. We must first secure investment and then ensure regional balance by directing such investment to areas where deficiencies exist. I repudiate the criticism levelled at the IDA. As anyone who examines what the agency is trying to achieve will understand, it is working in a very difficult international environment.

Reference was made to the globalisation fund. Many of those who described the fund, when it was first announced, as a publicity stunt and gimmick are now tripping over each other to spend the money.

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