Feargal Quinn (Independent)

The Leader of the Opposition, Senator Fitzgerald, has called on the Government to do something about job creation and, understandably, criticised the number of reports sought and task forces and committees set up during the years to tackle the issue. However, that is the way we will achieve it. We have the answer in that the way to achieve job creation is through the creation of competition. I am concerned that there is a belief that somehow or other we can solve the problem by protectionism. Fom the 1920s to the 1950s and into the 1960s we tried to create jobs by protecting ourselves from competition. From reading the newspapers, I note almost on a regular basis that there is a return to the same thinking, that if we are to solve the problem, we must protect existing jobs. The way to protect jobs is by making ourselves much more competitive. The draft planning guidelines published in the newspapers today suggest the opening of new stores and retail outlets should be restricted. I assume this restriction is being included to protect existing jobs, but that is not the way things happen. The way to create jobs is to create competition.

There is another criticism in the newspapers today concerning the fact that the leaving and junior certificate applied examinations papers are being printed in England. The reason is that because of European Union guidelines we cannot influence the process and give printing contracts to our friends in this country. The examination papers will be printed by whoever gives the best quote. The reason fewer people from the Republic go shopping in the North is that we have made adjustments to make ourselves more competitive. Unless we recognise the need to do this and become more competitive, we will not create jobs. Therefore, rather than trying to protect existing jobs, let us see what we can do to encourage competition.

Another interesting story concerns energy production. We read in the newspapers today that there are Americans who are willing to invest in wave energy projects in the west. This might be in competition with the Spirit of Ireland group which is trying to produce energy using hydro power, but let us encourage such competition because that is the way we will make ourselves more competitive.