Alan Kelly (Labour)

I will not prejudge the debate on the economy on Friday but the turnaround in Exchequer figures over the past year amounts to €9.5 billion and updated live register figures will be announced later. We have rightly engaged in a great deal of discussion about the reform needed in the public service but the debate on Friday should concentrate on how to stimulate job creation. The Government has not put forward a single fresh idea in this regard. I was not enthused by the comments of the Minister for Finance earlier because he did not advocate a stimulus package. The Labour Party has published proposals relating to energy development, a schools building programme to help the construction industry, the education sector and information technology. I would like the Minister to outline areas in which the economy can be expanded in order that we can fight our way of the recession.

A report was recently published relating to broadband. A number of Senators including myself raised this issue and the fact the Government strategies in this area have been abysmal and continue to be so. This report adds to that worry. Not alone is our broadband penetration awful, the speeds available, given the contention levels, are very low at only 60% of what has been advertised. The situation in rural Ireland is worse, although it has not even been studied.

This is probably the greatest infrastructural issue with regard to the redevelopment of our economy. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has failed totally in this area, which must be addressed if we are to develop IT and high-tech business of high value.

The House has heard of the recent "Prime Time" special featuring examples in various sectors of underpayment of workers and long hours being worked. Would it not be refreshing if the chief executives of, for example, the Construction Industry Federation or the Irish Hotels Federation, two sectors which have been focused on, would come out and make statements condemning such actions——