Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I think the Deputy is talking nonsense. One fifth of the money we presented yesterday is going to a number of advance facilities in the six regions outside the Dublin area. In each region, 80% of the revenue will be available for other solutions in which every county and region can participate. However, the Deputy insists on taking a very narrow view of where employment growth will come from. Yes, foreign investment has a role to play but the Deputy should talk to his own enterprises. Where are the opportunities in Tipperary? The food sector is having a fantastic period of growth. Many Irish companies are investing in the future because milk quotas are coming to an end. Glanbia has made investments which it expects will leverage 1,600 additional people at work providing milk and transporting and supporting that enterprise. There are huge opportunities that each region can build. The Deputy insists on taking a very narrow focus on where enterprise grows. Employment is growing in the south east and the mid-west and we need to build on that. People like the Deputy need to get behind those people with new ideas and see how they can be realised. That is what this is about. There is money out there for ideas to come forward from the regions which we will support on the basis of the best quality proposals. I invite the Deputy to participate in a real opportunity for our regions instead of just griping about what is going on.

See this speech in context