Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Last night was an emotional one, a night that enhanced the reputation of the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Taoiseach's words came from the heart and were very worthy. Very often our experience of a public apology is that it is tempered by an attempt at protection. The Taoiseach must, therefore, be congratulated.

Will the Leader consider allowing a debate on the report of the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation entitled, Creating Policies that Work - Actions to Address Youth and Long-Term Unemployment, which was launched yesterday and is worthy of discussion? One of its proposals is that we introduce a youth guarantee in order that anybody under the age of 25 years who has finished his or her education and has not found a job within four months would be given a guarantee of either further education, an apprenticeship, a traineeship or a job. This concept is based on a similar strategy in Austria, Sweden and New Zealand. It would be very worthwhile to discuss this proposal because the benefits that would result are such that it should be brought to the attention of everybody involved in job creation. The day before yesterday I went to Dundalk Institute of Technology to speak on the subject of entrepreneurship. All students take a module in entrepreneurship. It is a real reminder that we can do things ourselves rather than expecting others to do them for us.

I hope in the year of The Gathering we will see the return of tourists. One of the things that frustrates me is the number of lampposts with ties used to attach election posters. Last night on the way home there was one lamppost which still had 15 ties on it. When the political parties take down their posters, they leave the ties behind. I am not suggesting we ask Dublin City Council to perform this task but that each one of us go and look at the lampposts near our home and remove the ties which look untidy and are to be found all around the country.