John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The scale of the job losses before we came into government was immense. There are opportunities for small companies. Some extraordinary companies are creating jobs every day. We must recognise the roles of small and medium-sized enterprises and foreign direct investment. Significant announcements have been made by IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. The backdrop we inherited has meant that our job has been very difficult. It is important to note that additional jobs have been announced by IDA Ireland since we came into Government. In 2011, the number of jobs in IDA-supported companies increased by 6,000. This compares with net losses of 15,000 jobs between 2008 and 2010. I mentioned the job announcements that were made by Hittite Microwave Corporation and Aspen Pharmaceutical in recent days. The number of jobs in Enterprise Ireland companies increased in 2011 for the first time in three years. Some 4,669 job commitments linked to Enterprise Ireland were made in the first eight months of 2012. It is a very difficult job.

The Deputy mentioned that 87,000 people emigrated from Ireland last year. I remind him that almost half of them were non-Irish nationals who were going back. They might have come here during the boom years to work in the construction sector. It should also be borne in mind that 53,000 people came into Ireland last year. The global economy gives people opportunities to go to the UK or the US. Many young people like to travel when they are educated. They like to see the opportunities that exist for them. Many of them come back into the economy again after they have had their experiences. It is very much a global world. There is no comparison with the 1950s. People are highly educated and skilled now. They have the ambition to travel to New Zealand, Australia or the US. I am confident that the Government's plan of action will ensure there is a bright future of many opportunities for them in this country when they feel like returning home. I see the emergence of such opportunities on a daily basis as I do my job at the small company desk. Extraordinary companies in the high-tech, information and communications technology, health care and life sciences sectors are achieving extraordinary things every day and week of the year.