John Kelly (Labour)

I welcome the Minister to the House and thank Senator Mary White for raising a matter with the Minister that I wanted to highlight myself, namely, the issue of the jobs in MBNA. I must ensure Senator White does not peep at my notes in future. I will not labour the point of these jobs because the Minister has dealt with it as much as he can. I urge him to leave no stone unturned in securing those jobs in some shape or form. The region surrounding Carrick-on-Shannon would suffer a devastating blow if the jobs were lost and I am not sure it could recover if no action was taken.

What kind of funding is available for IDA Ireland for enhancements that could be used to encourage companies and multinationals to come to this country? Companies, some of which are profitable, might stay here for five or six years before outsourcing to countries like India and Pakistan. I know the corporation tax rate is attractive but what brings such companies here and what drives them away?

Senator White mentioned that the cost to the Carrick-on-Shannon region would be approximately €28 million if MBNA were to close. There would be another cost for the taxpayer if 730 or 740 jobs were lost, amounting to €16 million per year. I do not know how much money Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland has at their disposal when encouraging companies to come here but we should bear in mind that if they do not throw enough money at companies, it will cost the taxpayer €16 million. Even if we had to tap into half of that amount to enhance our attraction to other companies, we should consider such a proposal.

I remember that a number of years ago my town of Ballaghaderreen lost 240 direct jobs with the closure of Dawn Meats, and ancillary employment was also lost as a result. I recall being in talks with the IDA about replacement industries for the town but the argument was that a town like Ballaghaderreen does not have the infrastructure that big companies want when setting up in locations in the west. Carrick-on-Shannon definitely has all the infrastructure that any company would need. I was told in the past that chief executive officers may be to some degree interested in what they can get for themselves and what towns like Carrick-on-Shannon can offer them and their families. That town has all the required infrastructure so there is no reason a company should not consider the nicest town in the west of Ireland.

The Minister mentioned the modern economy. As Irish people our unique selling point is our friendliness and ability to communicate. I do not believe we can do any course in the country dealing with communications, interpersonal skills and setting up businesses and industry in this country. I know the Minister will respond to that. Harvard University has modules dealing with happiness, which is lovely but not all that relevant.