Denis Landy (Labour)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd, to the House. This is the first opportunity I have had to propose a motion on behalf of my group. I am heartened by the response of Members today both for the support for the motion and for raising many important issues. I am positive about the response from the Minister. The Minister heard my opening remarks, those of Senator Bacik and many other Senators. Although I am not quoting him directly he suggested that he will look at the issue to try to extend the core period from 30 days.

It has been a worthwhile debate. It was also worthwhile in the context of the many important contributions from Members such as Senator Burke who referred to the importance of the globalisation fund and its relevance to the difficulty we have in the south east. Many lessons have been learned from what took place with the globalisation fund. Senator Burke in his former capacity as an MEP and me as a member of the Committee of the Regions were well aware of what was happening with Dell at the time, of the mishaps and the lack of knowledge of the then Government with regard to getting the best from the fund. I hope we can bring all the expertise together to ensure an application is ready. I understand the factory must be closed before the fund can be put in place. I remain hopeful that we can draw down most of the money and use it in the broadest way possible. That was a difficulty on the previous occasion. As is often the case in Europe, we were good boys and we kept a narrow parameter on what we believed we could do. When other countries got an opportunity they broadened it and I hope we will do the same.

I am pleased Senator Cullinane supported the motion but I am afraid we will be rejecting the amendment. It is fair to say that Senator Cullinane's party signed up to the agreement in 2008 on the guarantees.