Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like other speakers, I am glad it is budget day because there is a good deal of fear, much of which is stoked up by the media and politicians. I hope the budget will be fair and that those who can afford to pay more will be asked to do so. There is a huge gap between income and expenditure, not including the bank debt. I wish the solutions were as simple as those put forward by Senator David Norris in respect of the bank debt. Some 18 months ago the people gave Fine Gael and the Labour Party a mandate to fix a badly broken economy following ten years of mismanagement and excessive spending. All Government Deputies must show solidarity and unity of purpose as we act in the national interest. Some recent utterances from Deputies, who are not in the Cabinet, are most unhelpful. When the budget furore has died down, I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the jobs potential in the restaurant and hospitality industry as The Gathering will bring large numbers of people to Ireland in 2013. Recently I attended a presentation by the Restaurants Association of Ireland which highlighted a major shortage of chefs. It claims it has the potential to create 1,000 apprenticeships and many other jobs in the hospitality industry. Recently the association submitted a proposal to train 220 chefs and had 140 jobs available immediately. It offered to train the chefs for half what it costs in some of the colleges and had the facilities to do so but the proposal was rejected. Any opportunity to create employment, particularly in an industry that has been on its knees for some time and which may see a revival, should be discussed and I ask the Leader to arrange for a debate in the near future.