Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

Job creation and the protection of existing jobs will have to be our focus at all times because it is the only way we can lay down a foundation on which we can have further economic recovery. I accept the drip, drip revelations from the banks and other areas will occupy a considerable amount of our time. However, there is a danger that the job creation issue will get sidelined because of that. Nowadays it is big news if 100 new jobs are created.

Senator O'Reilly and Wilson raised a very important point in regard to Quinn Insurance and, by extension, the whole Quinn Group. We are not only talking about 1,400 jobs but possibly about 6,000 in all. At least with the Quinn Group, there is an infrastructure in place. Apart from the difficulties which arose, there is a track record and a huge loyalty among employees, the community and, in many ways, among customers.

If there is a plan in existence, it should be discussed and we should be seen to give our time to ensure it is fully examined. If, because of the extension of investment, the whole system collapses on us, as far as the Quinn group is concerned, what is the point of talking about job creation if we let 6,000 jobs slip through our hands? This would have been a priority for discussion in this House in the past but, unfortunately, because of the other issues, time is being consumed in other ways. I fully support Senator O'Reilly and Senator Wilson. It should be an immediate requirement of this House tomorrow to discuss the issue of the Quinn Group. Even though the House has a full schedule we have to find time to discuss an issue such as this.