Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

In the past two years, as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I also introduced stimulus measures to protect jobs in the short term. The employment subsidy scheme, supporting 80,000 jobs, and the enterprise stabilisation fund which directly supported 7,500 jobs last year alone were important measures in retaining employment in vulnerable enterprises through the crises. The Government is also investing €1 billion this year to help those who have lost their jobs, thereby bringing the number of training, education and work experience places for unemployed workers to 160,000.

In the last budget the Government also introduced a short-term jobs stimulus, including a national energy efficiency retrofit programme and tax incentives for energy efficiency measures, thereby creating 5,000 jobs. In addition, it introduced a car scrappage scheme and tax incentives for electric and hybrid vehicles that will support up to 2,000 jobs, reductions in excise duties on alcohol and lower VAT payments to assist the hotels, catering and retail sector, a marketing drive and investment in visitor attractions in the tourism sector and a new employer PRSI exemption for new employees which is being introduced to reduce the cost of creating new jobs. In addition, as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I put in place a new strategy for the IDA which targeted the creation of a further 62,000 new jobs in the next five years which could lead to an additional 43,400 jobs elsewhere in the economy. In addition, Enterprise Ireland continues to support indigenous companies, with the objective of creating a further 40,000 new jobs in the next five years, leading to another 28,000 jobs elsewhere in the economy.

I wish to take a moment to refute the comments made by Senator Ross in respect of many of those who serve on boards of organisations such as Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and FÁS, regardless of what personal political affiliation or none they may have, in the best interests of the semi-State organisations they wish to progress. I certainly take grave exception to some of the comments made by the Senator about those who give a considerable amount of their time and expertise to the country's development. While issues arose in FÁS, those who have been appointed to its new board are engaged in a difficult process, through which they are driving the reform of corporate governance and all of the pertinent issues of strategic importance to the country. Although I am unsure of the political affiliation of most of them, the single reason for their appointment was their ability to do the job. Moreover, more people must be encouraged to participate in this process. It is encouraging to note that so many are interested in bringing forward their views and expertise for the benefit of the country. I certainly would not stand for that type of comment about people, particularly those on the boards of Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and FÁS, the boards with which I was heavily involved.

Ireland's ability to continue to attract so much foreign direct investment in spite of the global recession and to support and grow its indigenous enterprises demonstrates that one of the accusations often made about what happened in the past decade — that we blew the benefits of boom — is disingenuous, as we face into the challenges of today from a position of great strength. The strong position arises because we invested smartly during the good years. We invested with purpose in this country's economic and social infrastructure and in its long-term future, while also paying down the Government debt. We should not forget that.

It is this side of the House that has transformed the transport, water and communications infrastructure on this island. It is this and the preceding Fianna Fáil-led Governments that prioritised such significant investment for the development of sectors such as the indigenous agriculture and food industry. It was Governments led by my party that prioritised so much time, energy and capital into attracting foreign investment and jobs to this island and to the regions, while also growing the indigenous enterprise base.

In the area of my new portfolio of education and skills, Fianna Fáil in government has invested billions of euro in schools' infrastructure and in supports for children and teachers, while funding the research and innovation revolution in third level institutions. Special needs assistants are a good example in that regard. We are now funding more than 10,000 such positions in schools. When the Labour Party left the Department of Education and Science there were less than 300 special needs assistants.

Our record is unsurpassed in capital investment in schools. Even this summer in excess of 1,490 schools across the country are benefiting from a record €122 million capital investment through the summer works scheme. It is part of a total planned capital spend of in excess of half a billion euro through the school building and modernisation programme this year. At a time of significant fiscal constraint that demonstrates again the Government's commitment and the importance we attach to education on this island.

In the past two years I have been honoured to work closely with the Taoiseach, Deputy Brian Cowen, in leading this country. He is a man of integrity and one who cares deeply about this country and the people. As Taoiseach, he has my every confidence and support. The path ahead for this country will not be an easy one and I am certain that the political temperature will remain high. I am confident however that when the people begin to see the results of the work we have undertaken during the past two years under the Taoiseach, they will begin to appreciate the enormity of the task and the diligence with which it has been executed. I am confident that come the next election, this Government and Fianna Fáil will have a very strong story to tell. I commend the motion of confidence to the House.