Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This morning, Kerry Group announced the creation of 400 construction jobs as well as 800 permanent jobs in the coming years. This is a significant development. Although not all of the permanent jobs will be in place until 2016, that the majority of them, including in the construction sector, will have started by 2015 is welcome. I listened to unbiased news of the story in which a certain broadcaster described it as fantastic. I agree. Ireland is uniquely positioned to service the permanent jobs, in that they are scientific and are highly skilled. It is not a case of Kerry Group flying the Irish flag. After investigating various global locations, it concluded that Naas was the best. It is a vote of confidence in the country that Kerry Group, which has annual sales of ¤7 billion as well as many bases throughout the US, chose Ireland ahead of America. The jobs are badly needed. That 400 will be created in the coming weeks and 800 in the coming years is significant.

Many of the country's farmers are outside Leinster House today and the Government is keenly aware of the importance to them of the Common Agricultural Policy. Negotiations are ongoing. I understand that the purpose of the protest is to highlight the issue, but it must be borne in mind that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine specifically and the Government generally are still negotiating.