Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

I congratulate the Minister of State wholeheartedly on his appointment. I have worked with him before and his contributions were most impressive. If ever a portfolio was tailor-made for an individual, this one seems to be it for the Minister of State, Deputy Perry. People in Opposition should take note of the way he performed when in Opposition as he has transformed his home town of Ballymote as a result of his business initiatives and has built up significant links with Taiwan through international work. He has merely moved the work he did in opposition into his Government position. As a businessman he knows the red tape involved and how difficult and overly regulated business in this country can be.

I will begin on a positive note. The announcement of 150 jobs in Dell will have an impact on my part of the country and is a significant move. The confidence provided by the jobs initiative will be realised by people and although some see it as a drop in the ocean, it will have a significant ripple effect throughout the country. If there are enough drops in ocean, we will create significant waves.

There was another jobs announcement in Clare today with a SuperValu store in Miltown Malbay getting the green light from An Bord Pleanála. There will be 40 or 50 jobs in construction in the short term and the bones of 100 permanent jobs in future. It took five years for the project to get to that stage in a classic example of what is wrong in the promotion of business in this country. The project was approved by the local authority approximately three years ago and that decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanála by an individual who delayed it for six to 12 months. An Bord Pleanála overturned the council's decision and the matter reverted to the council, which took another year. The same individual appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála again, although I am thankful the board saw the error of its ways and granted permission for the project.

It is a symptom of what is wrong that a project that would provide much needed employment can be delayed by up to five years. We are looking to review all kinds of processes and procedures but there should be a root and branch review of projects which could create benefits and employment. They should be fast tracked. This country is open for business but it is not business as usual. We must prioritise any projects with the potential to create employment, and people with such plans must be given a VIP pass in getting projects through planning and tendering processes.

I am glad to see facets within the jobs initiative dealing with tendering, which can be onerous and most difficult. The Minister of State is sending out the right signals in that regard, and he mentioned the notion of a 15 day turnaround. People have often said that a Government project or selling products to a Government agency is like money in the bank, but in this day and age the money is no good unless it is physically in the bank. Many businesses have been very frustrated with the long delays in securing payments from Departments, so this is a welcome initiative generated by logic and common sense. Having experience in the outside world and seeing how State and private business interacts has been of benefit to the Minister of State in putting structures in place to make a difference in eliminating red tape.

The hazards and critical control points issue in food safety in the hospitality industry is above and beyond what is required. We are all good Europeans. What is the difference between a restaurant in Killarney and one in Italy? We are all members of the European Union but even though Italy is completely unregulated it has some of the best food in the world. In Ireland the best people prepare the best food in the world but they are over-regulated.

The debate on the JLC structure is most welcome. Coming from a business background and having employed people, I am aware there are thousands of people who would love to work for reasonable rates of pay. Nobody is suggesting that people should work for nothing but there will be a meeting of minds by the parties concerned and the deliberations in which the Minister, Deputy Bruton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, are engaged will bear fruit by making it attractive for small businesses to employ people. The critical objective for this Government is job creation and nothing else.