Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to make a contribution as it is important to have an opportunity to air our opinions on the priorities for the year ahead and for the Government. We need to be positive because there is a lot that is right with this country. We need to build on what we have. The Government came to power three years ago with a mandate to fix the country and its finances. Fine Gael and the Labour Party have stuck to their promise and we are on the road to recovery. Many might disagree that this is the case but I do not think there is anyone in this House or in the country who has not been affected by the events of recent years. Tough decisions have been made so that we never have to go through a similar crisis again. I am proud to make that statement. I acknowledge that more needs to be achieved. Unfortunately, not everyone is feeling the change. Unemployment is still too high, and youth unemployment in particular. I refer to the changes in the social welfare system which will change young people's attitude to work. In the previous system young people were handed money but they were not helped to find suitable work. We need to move away from that mentality. The introduction of the youth guarantee scheme will place an emphasis on those who have been caught in that cycle. I am delighted that the issue of youth unemployment is a priority for the Government because it is also my priority.

I was canvassing last night and I spoke to a woman on her doorstep. She has worked all her life, as has her husband. They have put both their children through college. Her husband has cancer and one of her daughters cannot find work. The woman feels she is caught in the middle. She said that she is too rich to be poor and too poor to be rich. We need to look at middle-income families because they are still feeling the burden more than others. I welcome the comments of the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, and the Taoiseach that if our finances continue to improve, it may be possible to reduce the tax burden on middle-income earners. The self-employed have kept this country going and if things fall apart for them there should be a rainy-day pot available for them. The Taoiseach referred to the issue of mortgage arrears which is being addressed.

I have a strong interest in the proposed North-South interconnector and the proposed wind export project in north Meath. I welcome the fact that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, announced a review of the policy. Many issues must be considered and we need a clear picture of future energy needs, such as competitiveness, security of supply, sustainability and the potential to support economic growth and job creation. As a rural Deputy, I welcome the work of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Hayes, and our MEP, Mairead McGuinness, in the agricultural sector. We do not have enough young farmers and we may be a dying breed. I discussed this issue at the Ard-Fheis.

It is important to get rid of the two-tier health system so that everyone can benefit from a universal health care system. We must ensure that the costs are kept to a minimum and that the system will cater for every man, woman and child. My focus is on young people and I know that education has always been a priority for the Government, regardless of the state of the finances. Issues affecting young people include the abuse of alcohol and drugs and issues of sexuality and mental health. The Government needs to have a joined-up policy for dealing with these issues for the sake of young people.

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