Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

The fundamental concepts of running an element of a stimulus package in parallel and, more importantly, taking a series of supply side initiatives on a sectoral basis to maximise growth and job creation are not in the plan. How many times have we argued that we could get more out of the manufacturing industry if the competitiveness agenda promoted by Dr. Don Thornhill was introduced? The Government commits to the competitiveness agenda in this plan, just as it did last year and in previous years, but the reports are put on the shelf and nothing ever happens. Even when it has the right ideas, it has not a clue about implementing them. There is nothing on information technology, research and development, pharmaceuticals or the food industry. Even in the tourism sector, the Government has such a grievance with Michael O'Leary that it cannot see the sense in abolishing the travel tax in order to bring tourists into the country. We have five star hotels, magnificent golf courses, beautiful scenery and the best of self-catering accommodation. Our main roads will bring tourists from one side of the country to the other in jig time.

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