John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

Will the Leader arrange for a debate on the economy? The Revenue Commissioners have issued figures for January which show that VAT receipts were not what one would have hoped. However, I am surprised that no commentator has mentioned the obvious fact that VAT is generated by consumer spending and that in the first two weeks in January we experienced the worst weather for the last 30 years. Naturally, there would be a major fall in revenue as a result. Anecdotal evidence, however, suggests there is an increase in spending. That evidence has been given to me by the same person who strongly warned last year of a big fall in revenue, so that source is quite reputable. I suggest that things are better than we might imagine. However, the figures for unemployment have increased again. That must be the focus for this House in the coming year. We must focus on areas where we can increase employment. I was glad to hear Senator Quinn mention that the European Union has given stricter guidelines to Greece and is about to give stricter guidelines to Spain and Portugal, but considers what we are doing to be correct for the Irish economy. We will turn the corner this year. Perhaps this House can serve the country even better by focusing on employment and ways to create employment in a growing economy.