Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not accept the Deputy's use of the description by Paul Murphy, MEP, of the JobBridge scheme as scambridge. Paul Murphy, MEP, is yet to be elected by the people. Deputy Higgins has been elected and he is entitled to speak in this House. If he speaks to the young graduates who now have jobs in his constituency they will give him a very different version of the opportunity to work through their qualification with an employer and the opportunity to get a permanent job or to start their own businesses. I remind him that 25,000 people are coming to this country every year. They are emigrating from other countries and they contribute to our economy, our welfare and our work ethic generally. The Deputy does not appear to recognise that.

He is confusing the banking crisis and collapse, whereby the wealth of this country was eroded since the time to which he referred, with investment opportunities in Ireland and our export potential. Last year was the best for the IDA in the past ten years and last year and this year were the best for Enterprise Ireland, which assists companies from this country to export abroad. Both new investors and expanding companies are staffed by workers who measure up in terms of productivity, change and direction. The Deputy does not seem to recognise that. It appears that, in his warped philosophy, he does not want anybody to work.

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