Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I echo the sentiments expressed by Senator Paul Coghlan. I join my colleague, Senator Michael Mullins, in commending the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, for the reduction in fees for the co-operative sector which has made a valuable contribution to the economy during the years, particularly in rural areas. Many marts and other cottage industries were built successfully on a co-operative model, with no senior managers claiming salaries of ¤150,000 per year. Instead, people are paid a fair day's wage for a fair day's work. At European level, the co-operative movement has moved into the manufacturing and retail sectors and, in the process, created thousands of jobs. Based on our limited but very successful history of co-operative enterprises in this country, there is potential for large-scale job creation arising from the Minister's initiative. I urge State agencies, including the National Asset Management Agency, to engage with up and coming co-operatives. There are vacant NAMA properties throughout the State which might be used by co-operative enterprises and many other services and infrastructures which could be put at the disposal of this most noble of job-creating sectors. Will the Leader invite the Minister to the House in due course to set out his views on the co-operative movement? It is an interesting route to job creation and could be an important component of efforts to deal with the ravages of the recession.