Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I join Senator Alex White in calling for that debate so we can have a meaningful input into making the next budget. We should have a series of debates, with suggestions coming forward. A property tax was mentioned and it may be useful to debate the concept of a property tax in this House. If it is being contemplated by the Government, could it be applied in such a way as to ensure the less well-off are not penalised and those in a position to pay can pay? It would be interesting to debate issues such as the strategic investment bank proposals of the Labour Party, which may well have merit.

There was a debate on employment last week but I call for a debate specifically on the county enterprise boards. Interesting figures emerged in recent days, relating to the period 2000 to 2008. In assessing the performance of enterprise boards, the number of jobs created by enterprise board was in the region of 12,000 while Forfás reports indicate those created by the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta dropped by 18,000. It is important to have a debate on the reconfiguration that may take place in respect of enterprise boards. We should not throw out the baby with the bath water just because Mr. McCarthy's report insisted on their abolition or their being subsumed into Enterprise Ireland. We must focus on the micro-employment sector and the good work done in that area. It is too simple to suggest county enterprise boards be incorporated into Enterprise Ireland. During 2000 to 2008, they outperformed their higher profile colleagues in IDA and Enterprise Ireland. That is an important issue that must be taken on board. We must have savings and consolidation.