Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

I share some of Senator Mooney's sentiments in regard to the IDA. There is much concern in the mid-west in regard to the future role of the IDA in terms of the recent announcement that Shannon Development's remit in respect of foreign direct investment is to be transferred to it. That said, in terms of what has been happening during the past couple of years it will, I suppose, be considered an improvement. There is merit in our having a debate on the IDA's regional policy. While I acknowledge that there has been significant job creation and announcements in recent months, a number of them have been in the cities, in particular in Dublin. We are not getting the same level of job announcements on a regional basis in places such as Leitrim, Clare and so on from where thousands of people are emigrating to Australia because they cannot get work and do not want to spend a lifetime on the dole. There is merit in our having a debate on the role of the IDA, how it does its business, its action plan and its decision making process in terms of visits. I acknowledge that Ambassador Rooney, who has Clare connections, spends a great deal of time there, where he is always welcome.

I agree also with many of the sentiments expressed by Senator Mary Ann O'Brien today. I believe a charities regulator is essential to the proper management and corporate governance of charities. It is appalling that people who have jobs continue to receive increments while service users are suffering. I call on the Leader to ask the Minister of State with responsibility for disability issues, Deputy Lynch, to publish the value for money audit which has been sitting on her desk now for almost six weeks.