Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)

I join Senator Ó Clochartaigh in welcoming the significant jobs and investment announcements in County Galway recently, as well as those for other areas. I have no doubt the renewed confidence and investment we are beginning to see in the country is as a result of the improving political and economic stability. We need to build on this, however, as we have large unemployment blackspots across the country. Ballinasloe, east Galway, for example, has lost 1,000 industrial jobs over the past eight years. We still need to encourage investment. The passing of the stability treaty will have a major part to play in ensuring we attract further investment to the country in the years ahead. I hope Senator Ó Clochartaigh's party will rethink its position on the treaty. On this occasion, the country will have to be put first.