Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Buttimer, Norris, Alex White, Boyle, Donohoe, Regan, Ó Brolcháin, McFadden, MacSharry, Bradford, Dearey, Coghlan, Walsh, Twomey, O'Reilly, Fitzgerald and Mullen expressed their opinions and congratulated the four party leaders for getting together yesterday in the national interest on the initiative of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, which was endorsed by the Taoiseach. It was an historic day on which we will look back and which future generations will say was a turning point when all parties accepted their responsibility to see what could be done in the national interest. The all-day debate on the four budget action plan and the ESRI report will take place next Thursday. The four issues of taxation, social welfare, health and education mentioned on the Order of Business will be the highlights of the debate.

Senator Alex White asked what changes I had made since my reappointment as Leader of the Seanad. One was the inclusion of question and answer sessions in debates, as the Leas-Chathaoirleach correctly pointed out, with Ministers present on all occasions. That is a serious advance on what used to happen in the House for the longest time. The Minister will be here all day on Thursday to discuss the economy. If the debate needs to be rolled over to the following week, there will no be difficulty in arranging this. I do not have any difficulty in going from Department to Department to see what their future plans are.

The priority must be job creation and growth in the economy. We have been hearing on radio this morning and last evening about the ESRI report. If we do not achieve an economic growth rate of 3.5%, we will not be able to reduce unemployment. Everything relates to job creation.

I agree with what Senator Fitzgerald said about tourism, a matter on which Senator Burke has sought a debate on many occasions. We will be discussing the isse all day. I have allocated 12 minutes for spokespersons and eight minutes for all other speakers. If more time is required and the debate needs to be rolled over, I will have no difficulty in arranging this.

The tourism sector has huge potential in terms of job creation and growth. Undertakings were given by successive Governments to allow family-run businesses, new businesses and multinationals with big brand names to promote Ireland abroad using their various marketing teams. Various Departments gave certain undertakings at the time for which we now seem to be legislating retrospectively. I have a vested interest in the sector, as my family is heavily involved in it. If the strategies in place are continued, there will be massive unemployment in the sector. On the one hand, the Government must balance the books, but, on the other, job protection and creation must be a priority. I ask colleagues, as requested this morning, to make job creation the top priority in their contributions to the debate next week.

The tourism sector faces a serious challenge because of the changes made in the last three budgets. One could almost say undertakings and guarantees were given to entice and encourage people to invest in the industry. Now legislation has been brought forward which will seriously damage the sector. Within six months we will all see the difficulties NAMA will face in relation to the number of hotels, restaurants and guesthouses on its books but with no one to buy them. That is what will happen. I will be making a contribution to today's debate and will mention the serious challenges facing the Minister for Finance, Deputies and Senators in trying to sustain the jobs in the tourism industry. The 300,000 jobs in the industry are the future jobs of our boys and girls.

Senator Leyden called for a debate on the National Roads Authority and An Bord Pleanála. I will have no difficulty in arranging such a debate.

Senator McFadden raised the issue of the children's hospital. Everyone in Ireland wants to see work on the National Children's Hospital progressing. We have been listening to a debate on this matter for 15 years. The project is progressing and the hospital will be in place in 2015 or 2016. That is what we all want to see. There will be 1,000 car-parking spaces on site. I wish everyone well involved well in their deliberations.

Senator Paddy Burke called for a debate on the funding of local authorities. This presents a huge challenge. My own county of Westmeath faces a massive problem, as indicated in the publications yesterday. I will have no difficulty in arranging a debate on this issue in the coming weeks.