Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

On the issue of job creation, yesterday there were welcome announcements in the context of a number of schools around the country going to tender and construction. As we all are focused on the smart economy in the future, in the context of awarding these tenders for construction of the schools announced yesterday I want to see us focused on the sensible economy and ensuring to the fullest extent possible that those tenders are awarded to contracting companies within this jurisdiction, employing people in this jurisdiction, and paying and contributing to the Exchequer in this jurisdiction. In particular, of course, I focus on the Border countries. Indeed, there was one major announcement on Summerhill college in Sligo, which is long overdue and much welcomed. I very much hope that to the fullest extent possible the contracts can be awarded to contractors who, if not local, are certainly operating within this jurisdiction. It is worth noting that while the Germans, our senior partners in the EU, are fully supportive of the European concept, one will not see a single German public servant driving anything other than a German automobile and supporting German industry. I want to see us, while focusing on the smart economy, focusing on what I call the sensible economy, that is, seeking to support employment in this jurisdiction. I hope all of the €600 million which Government has announced will be expended in construction over the next year and which is to begin this year, will go through Irish companies to ensure employment is supported in this jurisdiction and that the Exchequer gets the benefit of revenues created by that.