Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

The Deputy needs to recognise that enterprise will create employment in the economy. The turnaround in the performance of all the export-oriented companies and IDA and Enterprise Ireland is a significant achievement after a number of years of reversal. The Deputy is correct that there are innovative ways to bring new investment into the economy. The Ministers, Deputies Howlin and Noonan, are working on those initiatives. The recent meeting with the European Investment Bank is very significant. The new approach in Europe is helpful and there has been a new approach from the troika which is a relaxation in the terms on which asset sales can be turned into immediate investments. Those Ministers are putting together a programme for finding innovative ways of stimulating investment which will have a long-term impact. This is the focus of the effort. This is a significant challenge at a time when the State is in a very difficult financial arena. However, there are real signs of progress and we need to build on them.

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