Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann" and substitute the following:

"commends the Government for its management of the economy which has delivered unprecedented levels of prosperity and employment growth throughout the country over the last decade;

welcomes the Government's firm commitment to position the economy for sustainable development over the years ahead, while adapting to the reality of more moderate growth in the future;

welcomes the Government's commitment to improving national competitiveness, as demonstrated by its maintenance of a low burden of taxation on labour and capital and its investment under the National Development Plan in the economy's physical infrastructure and skill levels;

welcomes its renewed commitment to reform the public service with a focus on the needs of citizens;

notes that house-building output had reached unsustainable levels towards the end of the recent catch-up period and recognises that the current slowdown in housing construction is a prelude to its reverting to more sustainable levels in medium term;

and notes that the period before which FÁS meets with new employment welfare claimants to find new employment or training opportunities has already been cut from 6 to 3 months.".

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Martin Mansergh, to the House. It is appropriate that we acknowledge Deputy Mansergh as a former Member of this House and a revered colleague. I do not believe any other person in the history of the State is so qualified to hold ministerial office on the basis of such a long career in aspects of the public service. It has been a great honour for me to sit beside him in this House in the past. I am sure all Members of the House join me in congratulating him on his appointment and wish him well.

I congratulate the Fine Gael Members on using Private Members' time to discuss the economy. It is prudent to do so and we should have a rolling debate on the economy given these volatile times both nationally and internationally. I welcome the opportunity to make some points.

It is not too often that we have the benefit of a prop such as the headline of the front page of today's The Irish Times in a debate on the economy. The ESRI report predicts economic growth of 3.75%. In case that was a fluke another publication, the Irish Independent, reported the same story. Numerous journalists within each of these newspapers——