Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I acknowledge the great working relationship we have had and the great example the Leas-Chathaoirleach has given us over the years.

Enterprise Ireland has been an outstanding success and projects 25,000 jobs from next year. We must work on jobs strategy. We must work together, with Opposition and Government, because no one has the definitive share of expert knowledge of keeping the country going and getting back to work. I welcome the proposals from the Opposition and am working with the party leaders to ensure we bring this to the attention of all Ministers in all portfolios so the Government can have the benefit of all of this, not just colleagues on either side of the House.

The family of Deputy Áine Brady has a track record in public life par excellence that is second to none. I knew her late father when he was Minister of State and I worked closely with her two brothers as Ministers of State and Chief Whip. I wish the Minister of State well in her effort to assist the House by updating us on what is happening in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation.

The employers job PRSI incentive scheme is only one of the initiatives to help people over the current dilemma. The banks are giving employers, large and small, very little help. There is an onus on the banks because the Government did not create this problem. Across the world, the banks created the problem of the downturn.