Mary White (Fianna Fail)

The Minister made a very positive speech on the Appropriation Bill 2010. In a radio interview last Sunday I explained that the economy is a live unit comprising people who are naturally energetic who want to keep producing, get on and find an income for themselves. Senator Buttimer was using emotional words about the state of the economy, which is very negative. As the Minister said in his speech, it is very important the message is clear that Ireland remains open for business and is still the destination of choice for many of the world's leading firms. It seems to be going over the head of Senator Buttimer, who is now in the Chair, that Ireland is still in business and is very attractive to multinational investors and that the economy is a dynamic unit. I attended a meeting of the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the other evening where there were positive presentations by Mr. Frank Ryan, Chief Executive of Enterprise Ireland, and Mr. Barry O'Leary, Chief Executive of IDA Ireland. IDA Ireland will launch its view of last year in approximately two weeks, which will be very interesting. The Minister referred to the road infrastructure, and if a person who is interested in investing in Ireland comes for a meeting here with IDA Ireland and sees all of that magnificent road infrastructure, he or she will think it is wonderful. It now is uplifting to drive from Dublin to Cork in less than three hours, or to anywhere in the country. It gives a straightforward signal that this is a fabulous country with good infrastructure and an inter-city network. The country has achieved this over the past number of years. It is a great achievement that we have this mega-road system.

We spent the money well. There were slip-ups. Not everything was perfect. My party has admitted that there were mistakes made. I listened last night Dr. Michael Somers, who was here at the Lemass group meeting last night, who stated that the challenge is to get the money that has left the banks to come back into the country, to get the money of the large investors and the smaller investors back in and to develop and create employment to stop the outward flow of young people. I have no issue with young people going abroad. Many Irish people who have emigrated have risen to the top of their companies in the United States, Australia and the UK. They create a tremendous reputation for Ireland. People are so impressed that persons of such calibre running these large world companies are from Ireland. Within their number are those who have no desire to be adventurous and to leave, and who want to stay here, and it is to create employment for them. I have stated here regularly that Lir Chocolates employes 250 in Navan and it is 75% export driven. The companies which are exporting and are innovating non-stop are surviving and doing well. It is harder on the companies that do not export because demand is so low. If they are relying on the indigenous market, it is difficult for them. We must try to get people to spend more money and to keep employment in the indigenous businesses that have not yet got to the stage of exporting.

I am very optimistic about Ireland. By nature, thanks be to God, I am an optimistic person. There are challenges facing us but there are tremendous opportunities. An important point is that we need to court the international media more. There has been excessive prudence about entertaining journalists and the staff of credit rating agencies. Dr. Somers made the point that when he was in the National Treasury Management Agency, they were constantly going to America, talking to these guys, bringing them to Ireland and spending time with them. I made the point that we must keep that up. It is probably not politically correct now to be hosting people and humouring them, but we need more of that such as bringing them to Ireland so that they may see how we are getting on and how we have got our act together. It is obvious - the figures speak for themselves - that we are stabilising the economy and unemployment is coming down, but we need more comfort meetings with those who are influential around the world.