Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I support Senator Ó Murchú's comments in regard to the interview, which I, too, heard this morning. There is a need to recognise that we can talk ourselves into a deeper recession. Let us not do that. We must recognise we are facing a challenge that we can handle. I am not sure that has been recognised.

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that when in Dundalk I spoke to some people who had just lost their jobs. When I suggested they go to Newry, which is only a 15 minute drive away, to get a job they responded by saying employees in Newry are paid only one third of what they are paid in Dundalk. This brings to mind Senator Fitzgerald's call for a debate on competitiveness. The Leader has promised regularly to provide time for a debate on the economy which, I believe, should be directly focused on competitiveness. We have a huge job to do in this regard.

I was surprised when I read of a €250 million pay increase by way of increments to civil servants and State agency employees. This is the type of issue we must be willing to grasp in terms of affordability. An article published this week by Lansdowne Market Research states that three quarters of private sector employees have agreed to take pay cuts this year. This is happening at a time when we are paying increments to civil servants and State agency employees whose jobs are secure. We must accept the need to address this issue.

There is an interesting town in France called Beauvais wherein is located a 14th century Gothic cathedral which is being cleaned up by approximately 100 people, many of whom are not being paid for their work. They are job seekers who are willing to work to improve the area in which they live. They are being paid unemployment benefit or perhaps a jobseeker's allowance. I believe there exists an opportunity for us to do similar work. A letter in a newspaper the other day referred to the untidiness in gardens and common areas. The article referred in particular to dandelions, of which I have seen a great deal lately. Job seekers who enjoy gardening would be happy to work for their job seeker remuneration if doing work they accepted needs to be done. A campaign similar to the once in France should be conducted here. The work being carried out in Beauvais is one of a thousand different projects being undertaken in France. Let us learn from what is happening elsewhere.

I, too, came across the article on climate change in the Lancet, as referred to by Senator Hannigan. The figures published this week are amazing. It is stated in that article that our health will suffer if we fail to enact climate protection legislation. I urge the Leader to ensure the Bill tabled by Senator Bacik, or a similar Bill, is introduced shortly.