Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate everybody involved with the transition year student challenge held earlier today in the Seanad, as it was a wonderful event. Like some previous speakers, I was very concerned to hear young people say they felt there is not a future in this country for them, so all of us as politicians must redouble our efforts to ensure there is a future for these people by taking decisions in this House and the wider Oireachtas to continue helping our country in its recovery from the turmoil we have endured for a number of years.

I welcome the announcement yesterday by the Government that 20,000 new manufacturing jobs will be created by 2016. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, set up a task force last year led by industry experts to formulate a plan. Forfás and the expert group on future skills needs put together an action plan in this regard. The key actions being proposed across a range of areas include access to funding, management training and supports, cost reductions and technology adoption. I was in two venues yesterday, in Castlebar and Ballinasloe, meeting people from small businesses and the retail sector. One area of cost that seems to be crippling all types of business is energy, and we should have a debate in this House in the near future with the Minister responsible for the area in order to see how we can address the issue. Whether we are talking about small hotels or other businesses, the cost of energy and specifically electricity is absolutely crucifying them.

I ask the Leader to engage again with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on the jobs programme. Every quarter, at least, we have a very forthright and useful discussion with the Minister, and in light of yesterday's announcement, we should engage further so that we can keep pressure on and ensure the fears expressed by young people today will not come to pass in future. We must lay a solid foundation for significant economic growth in the next number of years.