Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

Several Members raised the issue of Ulster Bank. This is a difficult day for staff members and their families and I hope a redundancy deal will be agreed with the bank's staff and the IBOA.

Senator Darragh O'Brien claimed the jobs initiatives has failed miserably. Only yesterday a jobs initiative was announced which will involve nine Departments. Jobs cannot be created overnight and the Government can only create the climate for job creation. That is our intention. We must not talk down the country at every possible opportunity. We must be positive in promoting job creation rather than be crying and whinging.