Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I wish to raise the issue of Amgen and join Senator Boyle in asking that the Minister come to the House to discuss the issue of job creation. It is especially disappointing in the Cork region to hear of the loss of the proposed jobs in Amgen. In particular, the Minister should explain how much the Government, his officials and IDA Ireland knew prior to the general election about the decision of Amgen to postpone indefinitely locating its jobs in Cork. The project had been announced with much fanfare.

Will the Leader invite the Minister for Education and Science to come to the House to discuss her proposals for teachers in difficulty? It is disingenuous that we are drip fed the Minister's new proposal by the Government. It behoves us all to enhance and support teachers who face difficulties in classrooms and education. It is wrong to label them as problem teachers. We must support and nurture our teachers who are one of the primary movers in educating our young people. If they are having difficulties, an enhanced support structure for them should be in place and not the school principal wielding the axe and being the judge and jury.