Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

There is €6 million left. If these companies receive the average support given to the other companies, approximately €450,000 or €420,000, they will require approximately €13 million. The Minister will be short of money, assuming they all qualify. Why would any curtailment be put on this sector, in particular? It is export led, there is growth in that area and it is sustaining employment, with the potential for future employment. Is there any restriction in this context? The stabilisation fund and the employment subsidy were announced as a package. I hope there is no review of the employment subsidy taking place along similar lines to the review that is taking place in this case. Surely the one sector that should not be curtailed is one that sustains, maintains and promotes employment opportunities. I remind the Minister that only for the emigrant aeroplanes and ships there would be 75,000 more people on the live register today. Let us not discount that.

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