Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

He said the problem in Ireland is wages. He pays the minimum agricultural wage of €9.40 per hour while a good manager can be hired for €2 an hour in Poland. I asked him how he has remained in production and how he was able to expand. He replied it was because of productivity. He has bought a fine machine that composts the material, which previously took several people a week to do. The issue, therefore, is not down to tax or wage rates. Skills, productivity and management are also key factors. While that is an indigenous company, we are in a good position to survive. Much of the commentary over the past 20 years is that disaster is coming down the track but there is no reason that should happen if we manage to continue to box clever. We have been on a roll for the past 20 years achieving prosperity that we never experienced previously. That can be maintained but we must continue to be nimble, agile and clever. I do not buy into the doom and gloom of commentators who say the end of our economic world is nigh.