David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

There is a need here and in Europe for a proper jobs plan to get people back to work. We need immediate, realistic and deliverable plans that will create jobs for all of those who are currently out of work. It is interesting that there is a shift in the European debate away from austerity, cuts and the kind of approach that has been adopted up to now towards a focus on the need for investment and growth. There is an opportunity for this House to play an important role in that debate. I do not see why we cannot have a full day's debate in the House on the need for a growth strategy and agenda. We should even invite in parliamentarians from outside this jurisdiction and from across Europe and trade unionists and business people. We need to know what exactly Europe means when it speaks of a growth agenda and we need to see tangible plans from the Government with regard to what that will mean.

There is a responsibility on every party and grouping to put forward proposals. We launched our proposals yesterday and they are not that dissimilar to those called for by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and SIPTU. I am sure there are many other ideas from other political parties also. Irrespective of the referendum campaign which will take its course over the next number of weeks, given what is happening and the need for growth across the eurozone, there is an opportunity for this House to play a reading role in developing proposals. I urge the deputy Leader to take this on board. It would be very useful for this House to invite in parliamentarians from across Europe who have ideas on how we can create jobs, investment, growth and real stability in Europe. We should also invite in trade unionists and business leaders and anybody else who has ideas to contribute to what would be a worthwhile exercise and debate in this House.