Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)

I welcome this debate. The claim by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, on 16 November that creating jobs would be made a top priority of the Government simply does not stand up against the facts. On what is the idea that the IDA is on target to create 105,000 new jobs, with 640 investments, based? In effect, there is an investment strike by the private sector. Since 2009, non-financial corporations in Ireland have made over €30 billion in profit. They are not investing this. Despite falling wages and rising profits, they are sitting on these funds. The State must take the lead with an emergency jobs programme to meet the needs of the 450,000 who are employed. Instead of doing this, the Government's approach to the capital programme is to make cuts. Projects that would create jobs, such as metro north, have been axed.

The commitment of €1.6 billion towards water infrastructure is pathetic. It would cost more just to deal with leaking water mains and the completely inadequate Victorian sewerage system in Dublin city alone. Next Monday, Dublin City Council will be presented with a capital expenditure estimate of €356.9 million in respect of water and sewerage systems for the period 2012-14. This sum is paltry; it is a drop in the ocean. Expenditure will depend on whether the council gets the money from the Government. The figure is an estimate and could be much lower. The money must be used for flood relief, water treatment in Ringsend, the new reservoir in Saggart and the fixing of broken water pipes.

There is a need for a programme of emergency works to renew water mains and drains. It is an absolute scandal that drains in Dublin city are so old that they keep backing up. Around the corner from me, on O'Donoghue St., residents have been contacting the council continually over problems associated with the back-up of water every time there is a flood. Only three or four weeks ago, they had three or four feet of water in their homes owing to the heavy floods. This is outrageous. The problem is systemic in my area and I am sure it features all over the city.

There is a need for a programme of emergency sewerage works in both urban and rural areas. There is a need for rainwater harvesting systems, as have been mentioned, flood prevention, road repairs, insulation of public buildings and the conversion of used public buildings into public facilities.

I have not really heard the question of regeneration mentioned today. People are condemned to live in unfit properties. Residents in Dolphin House live in conditions such that they are facing a denial of their human rights. Residents and council tenants in St. Michael's Estate and O'Devaney Gardens have all been let down by previous Governments, and public private partnerships condemn them to live, over the coming years, in abject housing conditions. There is no funding for completing these projects.

The United Left Alliance prepared a budget proposal that it believes would immediately create 100,000 jobs through direct employment on foot of dealing with the issues I have mentioned, at a cost of approximately €5 billion per year. This proposal has been costed and the money could be raised through wealth taxes, including an asset wealth tax.

Mass unemployment and emigration now comprise a structural feature of our economy and society and will remain such unless the Government breaks with its failed policy of austerity, which has destroyed domestic demand. The State must play a key role in the creation of jobs. I do not know if I am abusing my time. This morning I heard that a Nigerian taxi driver died after being violently attacked last Monday. I condemn that attack and send my sincere condolences to his family. I think my sentiments will be echoed by every Member of this House. This was a racist attack and we cannot accept the killing of a man while he is doing his job.

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