Seanad debates

Tuesday, 6 March 2012

Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers

 

5:00 pm

Photo of Jim D'ArcyJim D'Arcy (Fine Gael)

The Minister is welcome to the Seanad. I congratulate him on his work. Due to the massive downturn in the construction industry, many are unemployed in that sector, including professionals such as architects and engineers. In that regard, there is a significant untapped market in the Middle East for such people. I have been contacted by people in Kuwait, Iraq, Libya and Qatar. One of the companies I spoke about to the Minister has just secured a contract in Qatar to project manage and construct 50 residential properties. I ask the Minister to ask Enterprise Ireland to review its Middle East strategy and to ask the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to consider moving some of those countries from the political division to the economic division of the Department. I ask the Minister to use his good offices to consult with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to ensure that people coming from Libya with United Kingdom visas can use those visas to gain entry to Ireland.

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