Larry Butler (Fianna Fail)

I congratulate the Minister for Finance for the Government's very successful issuing of bonds. Bonds amounting to €13.5 billion have been taken up very quickly, which I am delighted to see. Bonds amounting to approximately €6.5 billion are to be sold. It is good news for the country and we are getting reasonable rates when one considers the bail-out of Greece. We are only 0.2% up on the figure last January, a considerable achievement.

I welcome the fact that EirGrid is creating 200 new jobs. This is very much to be welcomed this week. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister to the House to consider the 750 jobs in jeopardy at Pfizer. One of its plants, the one in Dún Laoghaire, cost €280 million. A task force should be set up to consider the issue of job creation. We have an 18-month window of opportunity before the jobs are lost. Perhaps a debate in the House would be helpful. We could ask the Minister for Social Protection how he will tackle the problem and the nature of the task force he will put in place in that regard. It is important that we avail of the opportunity provided. The Minister will certainly tackle the problem.

Senator Quinn introduced a very important Bill in the House last night.