Alan Kelly (Labour)

I agree wholeheartedly with Senator O'Toole's comments on the Bank of Ireland, whose behaviour is not justified. It is a sign of the times when the bank takes such actions.

We need clear information on the country's finances, as other speakers have said. I made my comments yesterday on what action was needed. I wish to return to one issue, the upskilling and reskilling of manufacturing, construction and textile workers. They are quite vulnerable when jobs are lost. There is a need to allow for investment in programmes to upskill and reskill these workers. We also need to consider those working in administrative jobs. This country has significant exports of high value goods in the areas of risk management, finance, IT, insurance, for instance. The announcement earlier this week by Hibernian Insurance of its intention to cut more than 500 jobs is worrying. With global communications, administrative jobs can be located anywhere in the world. Pioneer Investments, one of the largest investment firms in the world, stated that it is quite difficult to find employees in this country who are suitably skilled in certain sectors.

A few years ago, the then Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, said the financial services sector should have a centre for skills. Nothing was done but it is now high time that something is taken. We must face the reality that if we are to compete we need to compete in the high value areas of business and we need highly skilled individuals. With regard to administrative work, I do not know if we will be able to compete at the same level as a number of years ago. I ask the Deputy Leader to address this issue.

It is clear that the Government will be examining the national development programme. I suggest that the examination includes the provision of broadband and the prioritisation of the broadband strategy within the NDP. This is the number one infrastructural issue for the country and the Government needs to state that priority. It is above and beyond everything else.

Lessons need to be learned from the Lisbon treaty. I am a member of the sub-committee on European scrutiny. I was taken by the comments of Senator McFadden yesterday about turf-cutting and I have great sympathy for the fishing sector. We need to stand up and say that rural Ireland in particular is being affected by some silly overburdening legislation that comes down from the EU from time to time.