David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I support the comments made earlier by Senator O'Donovan, who has left the Chamber. I, too, found myself in a situation on Monday where there was a number of visits, as the previous speaker said, by a number of Ministers to Waterford to which I was not invited. We also had an event at which the Minister, Deputy Bruton, addressed some business leaders. Again, all Oireachtas Members were not invited to that event. I did not receive an invitation. It is important that when Ministers visit constituencies all Oireachtas Members are informed of those events. I would have attended the jobs event held in Waterford but I did not receive an invitation.

It is time for this House to have another debate on jobs. In the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation yesterday the Minister, Deputy Bruton, gave an update on the jobs action strategy and it is about time this House had a similar update from him. As the Leader will be aware, negotiations are ongoing between Ireland and the European Union on the regional grant aid available to the various regions and how that will play out for all the regions. Currently, because of issues in the past the Border Midlands Western, BMW, region has the highest levels of grant-aid where IDA Ireland can give higher levels of investment aid to multinational companies but the south east region has the highest level of unemployment. It is important, when the Government is reviewing these guidelines, that the south east region is given priority and is on a par with other regions because we need every bit of support we can get.

Also, we need to discuss the proposals such as those about which Senator Landy spoke. We in Sinn Féin have constantly called for job subsidy schemes to be put in place, and any schemes that get people back to work must be welcomed but much more work needs to be done. There are many issues on which the Government is working but it is important that Members in this House are able to feed into those discussions. I am sure the Leader would wish to have his say about the regional aid guidelines and their impact in Waterford and the south east. If he could arrange for that debate with the Minister, Deputy Bruton, that would be of benefit to all Members of the House