Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As Leader of the House in the 24th Seanad, I am honoured to welcome Professor Pissarides. I am delighted that he was able to accept our invitation to address us today. He is a welcome guest. His address has been most informative and engaging for Members. The problem of youth unemployment is raised regularly in the House, particularly by its youngest Member, Senator Kathryn Reilly. I am glad the topic has been addressed, as it is one with which I am personally all too familiar as my native city of Waterford has the highest unemployment rate in the country at 22%. It is disheartening to see far too many of our young people emigrating or the less fortunate slipping into the downward spiral of hopelessness in which so many of the unemployed find themselves. It is the hope of all of us that the current Government programmes of assistance and general policy in this regard will sustain them until such time as we see growth again in the economy and the corresponding job creation. We have all learned a great deal from Professor Pissarides and I know that many of the sentiments he has expressed will be relayed to the relevant Ministers in our debates with them in the coming weeks.

I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery the Cypriot ambassador who has been present throughout the debate. His Excellency is very welcome and we are delighted to see him here. I also acknowledge the presence during the debate of Deputies Stephen Donnelly and Bernard J. Durkan who listened to the debate in the Visitors Gallery.

I acknowledge and thank Senator Sean D. Barrett and his staff for their assistance in arranging Professor Pissarides' visit. I wish him well in his deliberations at Trinity College Dublin this evening which should prove most enlightening for all concerned.