Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

In the interest of accuracy I wish to correct the record of the House. Last week I spoke with concern about two children found scavenging in the streets of our country. According to the national media it happened in Waterford city but the HSE has since confirmed it occurred in Kilkenny. The substantive issue remains and it is still of deep concern to us.

I also bring to the Leader's attention the annual competitiveness report for 2010 published by Forfás and the National Competitiveness Council. The executive summary states:

Continuing action to repair the public finances and restore the solvency of our banking system must be matched by an ambitious agenda of reform to enhance competitiveness and increase employment. Robust economic growth is necessary to generate the resources required to fix the public finances and the banking system.

As a responsible Opposition party, Fine Gael has been trying to impress this message on the Government over the budgetary debates and with our alternative budget. We need stimulus in our economy and growth measures; that is stated clearly in this publication by Forfás.

We need a debate on competitiveness, manufacturing and exports. There are already very strong indicators that our export businesses are doing very well but we must build further on that. I am concerned that in the recent budget we have seen cuts in areas such as research and development, innovation and enterprise and third level colleges. People have spoken about the €40 million that was supposed to go to AIB executives on bonuses. Imagine the great work, incentives and stimulus that the money would create if introduced into our research and development departments in colleges and institutes of further education.

There is an important need for us to debate new ways to stimulate our economy, as well as innovation and entrepreneurship. In the recent budget the Government decided to tax individuals with new patents, which is a hammer blow to entrepreneurship in this country. We must stimulate and create employment and there is a need for an urgent debate on the matter.