Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

That is right, discipline. Deputy Morgan is correct. The number of places available for further education and retraining should be increased, and there should be more graduate places, job opportunities and internships. My colleague, Deputy Michael D. Higgins has explained this in great detail. There was no jobs stimulus package and I cannot for the life of me understand how a little island nation with 4 million people, the size of Manchester, which has achieved so much on the cultural, social and recreational playing fields, in technology and everything can expect to get out of this recession without this. Why do we believe we are so different from everywhere else in the world that we can rise to the challenge, without a stimulus package - a country that depends on Ryanair and Aer Lingus to get people here?

I have had my differences with Michael O'Leary, probably more than many. He is probably at a different end of the political spectrum to me, but I respect him. He often says things with which I fundamentally differ but if he says there is an 80% drop in tourism because of a "tourist tax", I must believe him. I would not side with everything he says as regards charges, but if Spain and every other country is doing away with this tax to attract tourists we must address this. Tourism is so important for the midlands, as the Minister knows. He knows all about Athlone and the importance of tourism there, and his aunt will be making a case to the Minister in this regard. It is very important throughout the midlands. We have beautiful lakes, from Loughrea, through to Lough Erne, Lough Derravaragh, Lough Owell and Lough Ennell, the best places in the country. We need to get tourists in, but we are inhibiting them by imposing unnecessary taxes.

Tourists will spend once they arrive at their destination. Somebody accused me the other day of never coming up with an idea for bringing people in. If he was in Government, he said, he would give tourists €10 and €20 vouchers to spend. If such vouchers are given, the recipients will spend €200. I remember, as a young lad going to Atlantic City when one was given $100. The Minister probably did this, too, as a student. When one went in with the $100 one was quickly cleaned out, but at least the money got one in and one never forgot the experience. It was a good lesson.

It is extremely worrying that 60% of young people in a recent youth poll expected to be unemployed after graduating. We are all in favour of the carbon tax, but I must warn that there are areas of agriculture on which we could be impacting in a very negative way if it is introduced in the manner now being planned. I appeal to the Minister and his officials not to throw the baby out with the bath water. The carbon tax is a good idea, but we could end up negatively impacting on the agricultural industry, depending on how we apply it. It is no use adding charges to the productive sectors of the economy that could militate against achieving the additional production that is vital for getting us back on the road again. I thank the Minister.

See this speech in context