Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

The Minister of the day will always accept credit for jobs announced. It is one of the most pleasant aspects of the Department in which I served for four years as Minister of State with responsibility for trade and marketing. At the time our trade figures were soaring. The Taoiseach's office asked whether it could announce the good news, due to the work of the then Department of Industry and Commerce and my contribution as Minister of State. I informed it that if it was accepting that things were very good, it should also accept responsibility for announcing the figures should there be a downturn. That brought that debate to an end. However, I assume the same applies now, although responsibility for that part of the Department's work has probably been transferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Minister will accept that job creation takes years of negotiation. We must compliment IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and all the staff associated with them, as they are at the top of their game in attracting industry. However, we must ensure the legislation we introduce supports the creation and maintenance of employment, whether temporary or permanent, as every job counts.

The Minister has considered the issue of sectoral agreements. I have received submissions, as he has, from the entertainment industry - particularly the hotel and restaurant industry - on its concerns about the risks to employment owing to the requirement to pay double on a Sunday and so on. I would like the Minister to consider this aspect. I commend him for the work he is doing; he was in the Department before and returns to it with great experience. It is a difficult one. These are the good days; he knows there will be dark days when it comes to trying to maintain employment in various parts of the country when he will be called in to assist.

I commend the Minister for his contacts with NAMA through which he found a solution in terms of a job application. I am taking this from the newspapers. The negotiations were at a critical point and ministerial intervention was absolutely essential. It is also essential that the Government have the power to intervene to secure jobs for the economy. I commend the Minister for whatever action he took in that regard.