Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I have to hand the Forfás annual report for 2007, which deals with competitiveness. I seek both an urgent debate on this issue and to have cross-party support in calling on the Government to make it its priority. A strategic approach should be taken and the task of Members is to improve Irish competitiveness. I could name many facets this morning in which we are not competitive. Our costs are extremely high and are among the highest in Europe. Another serious issue pertains to the disconnection between the second and third level education sectors in Ireland. Many international companies such as Google must bring in people from abroad to work because we lack suitably skilled people who are capable of working in them. During the debate last night, I kept thinking to myself that Ireland is in the middle of a recession that I fear will get worse and worse unless the Government grasps this issue by the neck, in the way it did this controversial banking issue this week. I thank the Cathaoirleach for his patience.