Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

Indeed. If there are good ideas they are worth taking as far as I am concerned.

It is important to welcome the opportunity to discuss the reality of where we currently are and the current challenges being faced by the business community and putting forward some constructive solutions. I commend the Opposition in endeavouring to put forward constructive solutions. The Fine Gael motion is framed in a somewhat uninspiring manner but I look forward to Members of the Opposition outlining and expanding on the ideas they have put forward.

The fact is that we are dealing with national, European and global challenges. There is no doubt about that and the Minister of State knows the situation in Britain today. The cutbacks there are no help to us here as it is one of our largest export markets, alongside Europe and America. Britain has always been one of our main markets and Ireland is also a very important market for Britain. People may not realise that we are one of its best customers.

For the past two years the Government, with the support of its Green Party colleagues, has taken brave, tough and decisive steps. These steps have been recognised by international commentators and our European and international partners as necessary and pragmatic. We are seeing a positive effect as a result of the decisions, which is borne out by a plethora of reports. Employment rates are creeping up. The level of unemployment is stabilising. Manufacturing output has increased by almost 13% in the past year and exports have increased by almost the same percentage. Again, the Minister of State is leading this campaign. The growth will be in exports which are key to employment.

Small and medium-sized businesses must be able to reaffirm themselves and take advantage of recalibrated and repriced markets. Small businesses are vital and the motion is correct from that point of view. The vice president of the US multinational company Hollister, at the announcement of the expansion of its Ballina plant, complimented the Government on the priority it has given to job creation, the support given by the employment creation agencies and our educated workforce. As a former Minister of State I was at the Hollister plant outside Chicago and it is a fantastic operation. The fact that Hollister has recommitted itself to the project in Ballina is a boost to the economy in Ballina and as Senator Carty said, not just to Mayo but to Ireland.

Senator Phelan is correct in highlighting credit flow as the most important factor for the survival of small and medium-sized enterprises. I hope he would agree that I am not being dramatic when I say small and medium-sized enterprises represent a family, town or village and their failure or demise would be a very serious matter. There is no doubt that they are a vitally important part of our industrial employment. The Government is serious about credit flow and bank lending to such businesses. The Government amendment to the motion mentions the recent smart economy strategy which is focused on job creation and has the objective of creating more than 300,000 jobs over the lifetime of the programme.

Other initiatives are also being taken, such as the Credit Review Office which is equipped to assist small and medium-sized enterprises and a good report was given on the people contacting the office at our Ardilaun think-in, including farmers and sole traders who find themselves refused credit by banks. It is not oversubscribed but I understand the work of the office will be promoted. At the end of the day, it is vital that we increase production, encourage and support small and medium-sized enterprises, encourage inward investment, which is vitally important, utilise Enterprise Ireland as far as trade is concerned and utilise the new markets which are opening up for Ireland throughout the world.

We are an open economy but we are extremely well respected as far as our products are concerned. We need to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to expand into Northern Ireland, which is part of the country, or Britain which is a very close market in which to get a foothold, the Netherlands which is a very attractive gateway to Europe and is very receptive and utilise the offices which are available to Enterprise Ireland. It supports young companies and will provide a desk and backup. I ask that the Minister of State ensures that companies are well aware of the facilities which are available. Information can be found on the website of Enterprise Ireland.

I commend our President for her leadership of a trade delegation to Russia which was supported by the Minister of State. It was well received. It is a tremendous market. The Dublin Airport Authority has tremendous outlets throughout the world, as far as shops are concerned. They are the types of expansion which we need to consider. The Minister of State is considering the potential of the Olympic Games which are being held in Britain. That has been exploited very well.

I developed a programme where people were encouraged to make in Ireland and build in England. Components for the building industry were manufactured in Ireland and exported in packages. It is currently being done but the more of that kind of expansion which takes place the better. We are a good manufacturing base and we can develop the industry. We should not give up the ghost.