John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Cathaoirleach. I also seek a debate on the economy. I refer to the excellent news that Hewlett-Packard is to take on 500 people and that Intel is to invest a further €1 billion. While we undoubtedly have not reached the end of the trough of unemployment, there are signs of the shoots of recovery. When the recovery comes, as it will inevitably, despite the media's persistent belief that this recession is never-ending, although we are only in the first year of it, people will wonder why Ireland recovered so quickly. As the most open economy in the world, we have in place the systems that will ensure that we continue to trade particularly well in the world, and such systems have been in place for some time. I recognise the futility of blaming the Construction Industry Federation for the world downturn.