Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

With regard to the trade, investment and tourism strategy drawn up by the relevant stakeholders concerned and the agencies who support them, it is a matter for the Whips to decide when they want to discuss the report. It can be done at any time that is suitable. What we are trying to explain is that there are areas of growth potential in the economy and there has been an increase in exports this year over last year. Enterprise Ireland claims that this year, the companies it sponsors have regained 70% of the orders they lost last year and it expects them to make up the remainder next year. Export performance has been remarkably resilient given the size of the difficulty in which the companies have had to operate.

With regard to the overall economic policy being pursued by the Government, the question of the smart economy is about high productivity in all parts of the economy; it is not, as it is sometimes misrepresented, simply about white coats, PhDs and science labs. It is about innovating throughout the economy so Irish industry and the Irish service industry can be competitive and can operate in export markets in addition to serving the domestic market.

It is important to point out that one cannot decouple the question of economic recovery and job creation from the questions of putting the public finances in order, increasing confidence and ensuring we deal with having a restructured banking system. Much as Deputies want to contend during Leaders' Questions that it is possible to have a banking system without providing the supports necessary to maintain it, the fact of the matter is that we would have a very serious situation and a constant decline in Irish economic fortunes were those decisions not taken. There has been objective support of my opinion rather than of the assertions made by my opponents.

The answer to the Deputy's question is that the Cabinet, which meets weekly, deals with economic matters on an ongoing basis. Ministers are obliged, wherever their responsibilities require it, to implement those aspects of policy that have been outlined based on the resources that are available and the priorities now being set. The revised capital programme is another example of bringing forward a revised programme based on the economic and financial realities with which we have to contend at present.

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