Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach would be right if we were talking about Irish regions but I never mentioned the comparison with Irish regions. I mentioned the comparison with European regions when we speak of GDP. Yes, our GDP figures are skewed here, but not across the EU. We are 52% of the European average. I am not even talking about how far behind we are being compared to the southern, midlands and eastern regions.

The Taoiseach knows that we have a real problem. It is not just GDP. Look at the European Commission report on the competitiveness index. The reason we are so far behind is poor infrastructure provision and the fact that our innovation capabilities are not even close to where they should be. I mentioned the Northern and Western Regional Assembly. Will the Taoiseach meet with it? It has solutions and ideas that can contribute and would make a real difference. There is no point in me getting up here every couple of months, talking about what the problems are and quoting figures ad nauseum. What we need is for the Government to work with the regional assembly to find solutions.

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