Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey. It is at times such as this that his father's vision would be most welcome. There are many who consider that Charles Haughey was a man of vision. It was only this morning that we were discussing the need for vision and action.

I am disappointed the Minister of State, Deputy Kelleher, is not present to hear what I have to say. I am also disappointed that he did not provide a copy of his speech which was extremely long. Being in a position to refer to the text of a speech is often of assistance.

My comments on the document, Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy, will be brief. The food industry is our largest indigenous industry and 150,000 people are employed within it. The Government has issued another document, Food Harvest 2020: A Vision for Irish Agri-food and Fisheries, the concept behind which is that by acting smart and thinking green we will produce growth. I believe in action. With this report we must see energy and drive, and companies must seize the opportunity, whether they are multinationals or indigenous food and drink companies. I do not agree with Senator Quinn in his attitude on employment creation. Multinationals are coming here because of the 12.5% rate of corporation tax.

The Minister of State is correct in his statements about the tax that the other 26 countries in the EU would love to see us without that rate. Fortunately, the Taoiseach, Deputy Brian Cowen, delivered in the protocols to the Lisbon treaty that there must be a unanimous decision by the 27 countries in the EU for the 12.5% corporation tax to change. We have no intention of making that change. There has been much scaremongering in the newspapers and international newspapers, with people looking too much into what the European Commissioner had to say. We will stick with the rate as long as we want it and need it. It is critical to our economy.

I will give an example relevant to the smart economy. A few days ago I was in Glendalough and met Councillor Pat Casey who owns the beautiful hotel there. He brought to my attention the conflicts between the national parks and wildlife service, Wicklow County Council, Coillte and the Office of Public Works. I told Mr. Casey that when Mr. Haughey was in charge of the country, he banged the heads of all departments in the country to get financial services off the ground, and that must happen again with these organisations. They have different agendas and are competing with each other.

The Glendalough and Laragh area is one of the most exciting tourist interests in the country and the different organisations must work together to enhance and market the area for the good of local people and the beautiful, historical environment. Senator Hanafin is present and the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Deputy Mary Hanafin, should bang the heads of all the operators in the area. They are operating almost as sole traders but they must work to develop the area in a serious manner.

I must be critical of the trade council, as even the phrase is old-fashioned, dated and boring. I am sorry for being so impatient but the jargon is from the 1970s and 1980s. We must seize this opportunity by working together, becoming energised and excited about our country to get it going again. I am afraid my patience has been running out.