Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senator Alex White expressed views regarding employment and unemployment. On that, I want to wish the Taoiseach, Enterprise Ireland and its excellent chief executive officer, Frank Ryan, and all the Irish team, well on their mission to China. I had the great opportunity of being on the last trade mission led by the then Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern. There are very many companies whose brand name products, and I include the town of Mullingar, are able to survive in the world of competition because of joint ventures in China. I wish the Taoiseach well.

I remind the House that while the unemployment figures are increasing, Ireland still has 2 million people employed compared to 1987 when the figure was only 1.1 million. That is an advantage in this difficult time——