John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I support the Government amendment and in doing so I recognise some interesting points are made in the non-Government motion. These stem from the question of a public private partnership for metro north and the suggestion we examine the offer from Siemens Ireland to install water meters. The details of these proposals would have to be worked out but the proposals themselves are quite laudable. The non-government motion is incorrect to state the Government's four year plan contains nothing by way of concrete measures to restore employment. It quite clearly does. It refers to the €500 million innovation fund, the employment subsidy scheme and the enterprise stabilisation fund. Not only this, the four year plan specifically states that protecting those who have lost their jobs and getting them back to work is the most pressing priority of the Government.

Many and various areas of where we can grow our economy have been mentioned in the debate and it is very obvious that growth will be export led. As the third most globalised economy in the world, there is no question or doubt that we will share disproportionately in the 4.5% growth in the world economy this year and next, and the targets we have set for growth will be reached. With this in mind, many people have suggested certain areas for growth, and agrifood is an ideal area as commodity prices of late have been quite strong, stemming from demand which is reflected in the growth in world economies. Tourism is another obvious area and I ask the Minister of State to examine tourism from Brazil, Russia, India and China in particular as there are difficulties with people from there obtaining visas.

The motion also contains a proposal on the €10 travel tax which is seen as a panacea. I am glad the Minister with responsibility for this area has requested those who have an interest in it, namely, the airlines, to come up with proposals. The idea that the €10 tax can be reduced at present without concrete proposals from the airlines as to what extra business they will bring in is unreasonable. I believe the Minister will receive proposals. These proposals should not be used again by any company to renegotiate for lower landing fees. If proposals are made, I hope they are specific to the €10 tax and not used again and again to try to get a better deal in every possible area, having made a deal on the €10 tax.

One of the new areas we will be looking at is supporting indigenous industry and the Kerry Group has been referred to. Other groups will emerge and these will be very innovative. The innovation of the people is coming through in the hour of necessity. We are getting through quite clearly and quite well and we are on a very strong trajectory.

I do not wish to eat into anyone else's time. I suggest the Government has taken the correct path in the narrow confines in which it has found itself and this path has been backed up by the EU, the IMF and the four year plan. When the election is held with the budget behind us, we will have put this country on the road back to recovery.