Dáil debates

Tuesday, 14 February 2012

3:00 pm

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As Members are aware, 256 residents, involving approximately 64 families, were compelled last October to leave their homes in Priory Hall in Donaghmede following a High Court order relating to fire safety. For the past four months, those residents have essentially been homeless. We have read about the developer being before the courts, receiving fines and suspended prison sentences and ultimately being declared bankrupt in London. Meanwhile the horrific misery of the residents continues.

Dublin City Council has identified contractors but there was no agreement on who would pay for any of the workers required to enable the families to be housed adequately. During all the claims, counter-claims and court hearings, the people remain out of their homes. They have, by any yardstick, been treated appallingly and unacceptably. To add insult to injury, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, has refused to meet the residents, citing the legal proceedings as an excuse. I suggest to the Taoiseach that this is passing the buck. The very least the Government could do is meet the residents. By not doing so, it is being dismissive and is guilty of ignoring the core of the residents' plight. The Government needs to think outside the box, intervene and work to resolve this issue.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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A question please.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It can be done because where there is a will there is a way. A number of scenarios have been suggested but hiding behind the courts will not resolve this. A huge amount of money has been already spent on temporary accommodation. The authorities have statutory duties and obligations. Will the Government intervene to resolve this unacceptable situation on compassionate and humanitarian grounds? It should be resolved for the residents, once and for all.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Martin for raising this matter. In this case everybody has sympathy for the families who have been caught in this legacy of incompetence and greed. It is a symptom of the mess the Government has inherited. I understand this is not the only such case and that there may well be more. The Deputy did not make a proposition concerning the numbers to which he has referred, but I am willing to listen to what he has to say about how this might be sorted out. The Deputy is aware that Supreme Court proceedings are due shortly, which will adjudicate on a number of issues. Deputy Martin would not expect me to pre-empt what may happen or how the court will decide this. The Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, who has responsibility for housing, met some of the residents to discuss their concerns. I understand that the ESB was concerned about a number of safety issues and that it is not its intention to cut off the supply. Dublin City Council sought an early hearing in the matter of its appeal to the Supreme Court against the order of the High Court. The issue in the appeal is whether the High Court was entitled to make orders under section 23 of the Fire Safety Act 1981. The order to pay such costs has serious implications for the taxpayer. I know the builder-developer has been declared bankrupt in England. There are also implications for Dublin City Council in its role as the fire authority. By mid-December 2011, the council had already incurred charges of more than €350,000 for accommodation on foot of that order.

It would be wrong to speculate on what the court may decide on the issues before it. The overriding priority is that a successful conclusion should be brought to this matter for the residents of Priory Hall as quickly as possible. The Minister has repeatedly asked Dublin City Council to do what it can. I understand there is constant contact between the council and the residents in this case. The Minister's responsibility is to set out the minimum statutory requirements and technical standards a building like this requires. It is outrageous that this kind of edifice was allowed to be constructed without yea or nay in so far as competence, conditions, safety standards or building requirements were concerned.

The builder has been declared bankrupt in England, while the residents have had to move out due to safety concerns and the case has ended up in court. I do not want to see this matter continuing indefinitely. I would like to see these people back in their homes. Nor do I want to see the taxpayer screwed left, right and centre because of the gross incompetence and sheer drive for more money by builders who carried on recklessly in putting up an edifice like this in the first place. I understand there are more out there as well.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Sympathy, and outrage at the developer, are no longer good enough. The residents' clear view is that their plight is not the overriding priority of Government or of the institutions of the State, be they local or national. There is no sense of that among the residents who feel they have been abandoned by the institutions of the State. It is accepted, of course, that the developer has behaved in a despicable manner. Irrespective of the state of the economy, there is no justification for what he did. The key issue is that someone must take a proactive stance on this matter. After the court cases, the fundamental issue will still remain - how one deals with the Priory Hall situation by rehousing the residents. It will come before the State in some shape or form down the line - be it through welfare, housing or the local authority. There is no way out of doing this for the sake of the residents on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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A question please. We are over time.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach has asked us for solutions. Senator Averil Power spoke to the residents at last week's meeting. She told me that in Belmaine and Clongriffin there are currently many empty NAMA houses in estates. Surely some creative thinking can go into this whereby people could work with the city council, NAMA and others to do the humanitarian thing. This is an exceptional situation. I have not come across a situation like this where more than 60 families, including 256 residents, have had to leave their homes.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you, Deputy. We are over time.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We all agree about the appalling way they have been dealt with, but they need more than sympathy. We need intervention and action to deal with an exceptional situation. If people put their heads together they could bring about a resolution that would be satisfactory to the residents. It would also meet with the approval of people across the country.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Yes, I agree with Deputy Martin that sympathy will not rehouse these people, and neither will condemnation of the developer. However, we have a process in our democracy whereby the courts are entitled to make decisions on questions before them.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The courts are not dealing with the core issue.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Hold on a second. The Deputy knows as well as I do when Priory Hall was built. The Building Control Act of 1990 clearly places responsibility for compliance with building regulations on the owner of the building concerned, and the builder and developer. We know the builder and developer has now been declared bankrupt but the enforcement of building regulations is the responsibility of the 37 local authorities. I agree that heads should be put together. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has been in touch and NAMA has offered some accommodation, as the Deputy knows. The Minister of State met some of the residents to hear their genuine concerns. There is a court case coming up and there are questions to be decided by it. I would like to think that heads could be put together once the issues decided upon by the Supreme Court become clear. This is not exceptional, however. It is very difficult for the people who have had to stay in hotels or other city premises with their families and belongings, and all the pressure that brings.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There comes a time when a solution has to be brought forward and the courts will not do it.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I would like to think we could have a conclusion by a particular date and that these families will be back in the homes, for which they are paying mortgages. The taxpayer has been already exposed to a liability of more than €350,000 which is continuing to mount. Therefore, we need clarity from the court on the issues before it and we need to know about the local authority's responsibility for enforcing the building regulations and requirements under the 1990 Act. I would like to see this matter ended but I understand it is not exceptional.

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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May I begin by wishing the Taoiseach a very happy Valentine's Day?

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Thanks.

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Adams has shown a lot of love in his time.

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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And you too, a Cheann Comhairle.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you very much. It is reciprocal.

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I also want to welcome the Government's renewed focus on the jobs crisis, and the Taoiseach's announcement yesterday of a jobs action plan. It is particularly good that he is taking personal responsibility for the delivery of this. I look forward to his reports. I note that this is the third or fourth time the Taoiseach has announced some of these proposals. I am going through this as constructively as possible because Sinn Féin wants to be constructive and positive on these issues.

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Come on now.

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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There is no new money and no meaningful targets have been set thus far. Having pondered the issue, the reason no new money is available is that the Government remains totally committed to this austerity programme. The Government has been in power for almost a year and during that time unemployment has been around 440,000. Some 1,640 businesses have closed and 76,000 citizens have been forced to emigrate. Tá a fhios ag an Taoiseach go bhfuil clubanna de chuid Chumann Lúthchleas Gael nach bhfuil ábalta foirní a chothú toisc go bhfuil na himreoirí thar sáile. Tá páistí sa Ghailearaí, in éineacht lena múinteoirí agus a dtuismitheoirí, ó Ghaelscoil Bharra, atá ag obair i seomraí réamhdhéanta le seacht mbliana déag, gan áras ar bith mar scoil.

The amount the Government has invested in the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and county enterprise boards is less than a half a billion euro.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Has the Deputy a question?

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Yet next month the Anglo Irish promissory note will cost the people of this State €3.1 billion. Is that not the problem with the Government trying to tackle this jobs crisis but then giving so much money over to these banks and bankers with nothing meaningfully being put into jobs creation stimulus packages and regenerating the economy?

To get some sense of this, how many citizens will be taken off the live register by March, June, September and the end of this year under this jobs plan?

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Some times I get a little concerned when I hear Deputy Adams talking about Valentine's Day. I am not sure whether it is romance or massacre he is talking about.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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He will send the Taoiseach a card later.

Photo of Billy KelleherBilly Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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That was a kibosh instead of a whitewash.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Adams covered a number of areas in his question on the action plan for jobs announced yesterday by the Government. He covered several areas including imirce agus cúrsaí CLG agus seanfhoirgnimh i nDún na nGall. Tá a fhios aige go bhfuil airgead sa bhreis curtha isteach sa Vóta ó thaobh cúrsaí oideachais de chun foirgnimh nua a thógáil. Má labhraíonn an Teachta leis an Aire Stáit ansin, an Teachta McGinley, cuirfidh sé in iúl do cad tá i gceist maidir leis an scoil sin.

The difference between this action plan and the accumulation of others that have been published over the years is that this one will be implemented.

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Like the NewERA one.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The reason it will be implemented — and Deputy Adams can hold me to this — is because I will oversee its implementation from the Department of the Taoiseach.

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Ministers are shaking in their boots over there. All the heads are down.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Ó Caoláin can shake his head but he knows I am serious about this. Jobs are every Minister's priority and that of the 36 State agencies involved.

It has started already with arrangements made for the first meeting of the implementation group. As I said yesterday at the plan's launch, we will have our Succeed in Ireland campaign launched before St. Patrick's Day. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, has begun to establish the exporters' section in Enterprise Ireland.

When Deputy Adams claims there is no new money in this plan, he should understand we have outlined from where the funding within the plan will come. The big difference is that this plan is focused on exports. A 1% increase in exports is worth €1.5 billion. Exports are where it has to be.

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Is there a time limit for a reply, a Cheann Comhairle?

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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When I am told by people across the country that they want to get back into investing in their businesses, taking on extra people and exporting, I understand the problems they face. The problem in the past was we had brilliant launches at great expense to the taxpayer but nothing ever happened afterwards.

Photo of Barry CowenBarry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Five point plans.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Yesterday's plan was all done before the Taoiseach got into office.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This action plan was launched in a working plant, ICON, which employs more than 8,500 people in 40 countries. All of those young people are dealing with the future.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It will cover ten years.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Please, this is Deputy Adams's question.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It will not be over ten years because we have 270 proposals on job creation. I will publish a quarterly progress report so that-----

Photo of Barry CowenBarry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Report cards.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----every Minister and every State agency knows their responsibility and gets on with it.

What we are at is opening the doors for business and industry. It is about creating an environment and atmosphere where jobs can be created, where work can follow, where people can indulge themselves in that and contribute to their country and their local economy.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you, Taoiseach.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We do not have extra money to spend or borrow. Considering the circumstances in which we are, this action plan will change the environment and atmosphere for industry and job creation to flourish in this country. I want it to be and prove it to be that Ireland will be best small country in the world in which to do business by 2016.

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach should bear in mind he has money to give to the banks. That is the choice he is making.

Bhí an Taoiseach ag tabhairt amach fúm ag caint faoi Ghaelscoil Bharra. Rinne Fine Gael agus Páirtí an Lucht Oibre gealltanas foirgneamh nua a cheadú fá choinne na scoile ansin.

Let me be positive, however. It is a good day despite the Taoiseach's rejection of my love earlier.

(Interruptions).

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach may have noted the Executive in the North, with the active support of Sinn Féin and under the leadership of Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness, announced a €700 million investment programme in hospitals and roads infrastructure. This is despite the Tory British Government cuts, a reduced block grant and limited fiscal powers. It is also real investment in jobs and economic growth which is in stark contrast to the Taoiseach's Government putting only €750 million into capital projects.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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A question please.

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I wish him well in all the other proposals. However, the North's type of initiative and scale of investment is the only way.

The Taoiseach promised 100,000 net new jobs. Again, how many citizens will be off the dole by this time next year? Does the Taoiseach accept there is a huge contradiction in launching a jobs plan while sticking to austerity policies which are further depressing the economy, pushing down growth-----

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you Deputy.

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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-----and restricting the Government's ability to stimulate the economy?

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Tá a fhios ag an Teachta go bhfuil airgead sa bhreis curtha isteach chun scoileanna nua a thógáil. Níl a fhios agam ag an bpointe seo cad é go díreach an scéal faoin scoil a raibh an Teachta ag caint fuithi. Tabharfaidh an tAire Oideachais agus Scileanna freagra iomlán don Teachta má chuireann sé síos ceist faoin scoil.

I recognise the announcement made by Northern Ireland's First Minister and Deputy First Minister which will be a €7 billion programme over four years. It includes the development of the road to Letterkenny which is very welcome. While the Government here is constrained somewhat in the moneys available to it, we have made available €50 million over two years between 2015 and 2016 for cross-Border infrastructure projects which has been accepted and agreed by the Northern Ireland Executive.

Our programme is a €17 billion capital programme, a significant amount. The Government is also examining other opportunities in public private partnerships for road development, school clusters and other projects.

I note David Begg's comments this morning about stimulating demand. We have had discussions about pension funds being made available for investment in various infrastructure projects. This is a valid discussion we can have.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you Taoiseach.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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For now, there are 270 proposals covering 15 Departments and 36 State agencies.

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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How many people will be taken off the dole? What is the target figure?

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are way over time.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Adams asking how many people will be off the dole by this time next year is like asking how many seagulls flew over the Phoenix Park in the past three weeks. It is a daft question, which the Deputy knows.

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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This is a plan. A plan has to have objectives.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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All one needs to do is create an atmosphere and an opportunity in which business can flourish. When I go around the country, people tell me they have ideas for job creation. In so far as we can respond to them through the Finance Bill and changes to various taxation measures, we intend to open the doors for businesses to take on employees, make it easier for them to hold on to current employees and get back into the business of exporting. That is why the Minister for Finance made special arrangements available for people who market Ireland abroad, particularly in the BRIC countries, Brazil, Russia, India and China. Changes were made in the budget and the Finance Bill to stimulate that.

Deputy Adams gets the same communications that I do in which people ask why they cannot get access to credit from the banks.

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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A Cheann Comhairle, is there no time limit for replies?

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Sorry, Taoiseach but we are way over time.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Quite a number of small and medium-sized enterprises are unable to give their cash flow projections for the next three months.

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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It is because the banks will not give them credit.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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No, it actually makes it difficult for a willing bank manager to allocate credit funding in such a scenario. We recommend accountants, when doing the books at the end of the year, should put in place a system of indicating what a company's future cash flow projection will be, based on past trends.

It is true to say - I have evidence of this - that many small companies looking for funding from banks cannot state what their cashflow projections for the next three months might be. We are due to meet the banks shortly to discuss the principles and structures for lending so we can ease this somewhat more for businesses. We are serious about this proposal.

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Out of curiosity, how many seagulls flew above the Phoenix Park?

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Finian McGrath.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I cannot answer that no more than the Deputy -----

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Do not spoil St. Valentine's Day. I have called Deputy Finian McGrath.

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Share the love.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We do not want to fall out of love with each other at this point.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The late Noel Lemass put the same question to my father.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I want to ask the Taoiseach -----

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Ar aghaidh leat, Deputy.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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-----a number of questions about the action plan for jobs. Earlier today a group of Independent Deputies met the US ambassador and one of the issues we discussed was the action plan for jobs. Three issues arose during the discussion which are relevant to today's debate. I asked how the US managed to start reducing unemployment over the past several months and the three reasons given were stimulus, banks starting to lend and an acceptance that austerity did not work. These are three sensible options which have reduced unemployment in other countries.

In broad, general terms, I welcome any plan that creates jobs. It would be easy for me to start jumping up and down to score points for the sake if it but that would not be good for the unemployed or the country.

Photo of Tom HayesTom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Good man.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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In respect of the objectives for jobs, how will the Government deal with austerity and the consumer confidence and spending factors? The elephant in the room in this debate is the black economy. Small businesses and the Revenue Commissioners estimate that we are losing €5 billion per annum in taxes. Businesses and the State are losing out to rogue operators. How will the Taoiseach respond to that issue given that it is costing €5 billion?

The report refers to county enterprise boards. I urge the Taoiseach to be careful in this regard because some of the county enterprise boards have been very successful at creating jobs.

The Taoiseach appears to have run away from reform of the existing upward only rent review leases. This was promised by the Government prior to the general election. Approximately 200 small businesses close every month because of rates, charges and high rents.

Did he say the Government has no role in creating jobs? Does he not see a role for the State or semi-State sector in creating jobs in Ireland?

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am glad the Deputy welcomes the fact that a plan has been produced. This plan is going to be implemented and it is my view and that of the Government that it will vastly improve the climate for the development of jobs and exports. We pointed out yesterday that we expect 10,000 jobs in the green economy by 2015, 7,200 jobs in food added value by 2020, 2,500 in digital gaming by 2014 - the Deputy will be aware of recent announcements in that regard - 10,000 jobs in international financial services by 2016 and 12,500 jobs in the new IDA supported areas by 2012. A recent report produced by Microsoft said cloud computing has potential for creating 8,500 jobs by 2014. Clearly this is an area with massive opportunity and the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, addressed it with the EMC company yesterday in terms of cloud computing.

I too met the American ambassador yesterday. I was proud to meet Mr. Rooney given the work he does for relations between Ireland and the United States. At the meeting convened by former President Clinton in New York last week, the point was made clearly by serious investors from around the world that two issues are important to bear in mind. When rating agencies look at countries they investigate political stability and the capacity for generating economic growth. At least in this country the contract between Fine Gael and the Labour Party in government acknowledges this is a challenging time which is not easy for many people but when we get through this economic challenge the rewards and benefit for the country will be great. We have many hundreds of engines in this country to drive our economy. We must have a sense of creating that environment and atmosphere, and a sense of belief and conviction to carry it through. For investors from abroad, these characteristics are very strong and they put Ireland in a different place than that of many other countries. They should never be forgotten in that context.

Austerity on its own is never going to work but we have a problem in that we have to close a gap because we are spending €16 billion more than we are taking in. As I have stated previously, if we never had a problem in Europe, that would be a problem for us. The money we can save when we deal with that can be spent on jobs, hospitals, schools and other things that are important to our people.

The Government does not have all the answers but we have made 270 proposals which I intend to see implemented and will oversee with all the Ministers and 36 State agencies. I hope the consequence is that young men and women will have the opportunity to work and live in their own country, if that is what they wish.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I am glad the Taoiseach accepts austerity is not working and will not work. However, may I ask about the details of the action plan? Approximately 135,000 people, or 7.5% of total national employment, are currently employed in agri-food production. In respect of the section of the report on agri-food, where is the response to the proposal to create 5,000 jobs in the sugar industry? I understand a costed plan to create 5,000 jobs was put on the Government's table before Christmas. Is that concrete proposal now dead?

In respect of the arts sector, which supports 21,000 jobs, are any new, huge events planned to create jobs or bring in tourists over the next 12 months? Is there a big ticket item in this report which the Taoiseach can tell the Dáil and the people of Ireland will create a couple of hundred or a couple of thousand jobs?

I ask the Taoiseach to have a serious word with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. I have just received news that he refused to meet a businessman from County Wicklow who has an idea to create thousands of jobs. That is appalling and unacceptable.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is a separate issue.

Photo of Tom HayesTom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Timmins may have something to say about it.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I have no idea who the eminent gentleman from Wicklow may be. I do not know anything about the issue Deputy Finian McGrath raised.

Photo of Billy KelleherBilly Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach will meet him in Punchestown shortly.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I receive lots of queries from people who have ideas. One individual approached me the other day to tell me he had a great plan that can be applied globally. When I asked him what it involved he said he would remove fog from all the airports. I am not sure how it works but I might find out later.

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Deputy Finian McGrath should try to get his head around that.

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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There is fog over there.

Photo of Billy KelleherBilly Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is closing the airports.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Settle down.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Austerity on its own cannot work.

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I can see clearly now.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It has to be balanced by stimulus to create demand. The Minister for Finance is working on a structure for that in the context of what we have to do this year and next year. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is working very hard-----

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Well done, Deputy Varadkar.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----to stimulate demand to bring people in here. That is why-----

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Give us one big event.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----this year, as a good Galway man, I hope Deputy Finian McGrath will watch the conclusion of the Volvo race in Galway, which I understand is expected to draw 800,000 people to the western capital and city of the tribes.

Photo of Billy KelleherBilly Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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If the fog does not come in.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I hope he will be here when the tall ships come to Dublin.

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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What did the Taoiseach say to the man with the fog plan?

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I hope he will join the preparations for the Gathering in 2013 when we expect a huge number of the diaspora to come back to our home land-----

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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The Battle of Clontarf.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I hope that we can implement our programme to abolish the travel tax if the airlines measure up in the context of that commitment. As the Deputy is aware the opportunity created by reducing the VAT in the hospitality sector and reducing the PRSI for employees on low wages was evident in 6,000 extra jobs being created in the last quarter.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government also got rid of the volcanic ash, in fairness.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The hospitality sector now has the opportunity to give good value to those who come to our country or those who visit internally and give them a quality experience so that-----

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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One could fall asleep in the Visitors Gallery.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----they will talk about it and our reputation climbs again. It is not necessary to have exorbitant rates and fees for everything and I am glad to say that has altered considerably. The opportunity exists and we can go through all the items in the action plan when we debate it here in the House.