David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I take this opportunity to welcome a decision by the European Parliament to grant additional funding to former TalkTalk workers in Waterford as part of the EU globalisation fund and to praise the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, officials in his Department, all the public representatives in Waterford, European Parliament Members, the employee representative groups and the body set up to represent the former workers for the part they played in making this happen. Much good work has been done and the hope is that the money will be used in a very efficient and targeted fashion to ensure that former TalkTalk workers can avail of opportunities so that they can get back into the workforce. While I am on the subject, I commend Senator Colm Burke on the role he played previously as a Member of the European Parliament in ensuring that Ireland accessed funding under the European globalisation fund.

We must, however, remind ourselves that mistakes were made in the past and I accept the Minister with responsibility has certainly learned from those mistakes and wants to ensure that best practice is put in place in terms of how this money is spent and utilised in the interests of the former workers. That has to be a good step forward. Again, I welcome the funding that has been announced. Can our appreciation for the work done on behalf of those former workers be passed on to the Minister?

On nine occasions, Senator Kathryn Reilly has called for a debate on youth unemployment, and I think this is the tenth time Sinn Féin has called for one. It is one of the big issues in Europe and in Ireland. We should have a stand-alone, full and proper debate in this House. If it could be arranged between now and the end of this session we would all benefit from it given the high levels of youth unemployment we have, which is clearly being linked to emigration. I respectfully ask that the call made not only by Sinn Féin but by several Members of this House for such a debate would be acceded to and that it would happen as soon as possible.