Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I have no difficulty with such a debate as this is a most important request and debate, so much so that I am prepared to provide for an all-day debate on the challenges facing the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, especially as they relate to job creation and competitiveness, which has often been outlined to the House by Senator Mary White. The greatest challenge facing us is our competitiveness and this is an ideal opportunity for everyone concerned to be able to meet these challenges and set in place a formula of policies that will enable us to play our part in the next five to ten years with regard to job creation.

There are also the areas of upskilling and retraining and the important role which FÁS is playing. I wholeheartedly welcome the new initiative by FÁS in County Westmeath in particular and Senator McFadden would agree with me. There has also been a roll-out to rural areas like Castlepollard, where we have a new centre. It provides help for rural places such as my local town, where the number on the unemployment register has increased by 150%. That is a serious position and we must use the opportunity to upskill and retrain the excellent young workforce which is available and assist it in every way in preparing for jobs in two or three years.

I fully agree with the sentiments and views expressed by all Senators. Everyone in this House and every Member of Dáil Éireann wants to see something done urgently with regard to competitiveness and job creation. Another issue exercising all of us, because we are meeting people on the doorsteps when canvassing, is the banking system. Credit is not being made available currently.