Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. It is a good day when the unemployment figures fall below 400,000. The Minister will give credit to his Cabinet team for all the effort that has been made in this regard. However, given his responsibility for jobs, the Minister has done most of the legwork on this issue. This message has been echoed by previous speakers. We are in a great position to build on the aspirations and hopes of citizens. It is difficult for those without a job to understand that things are getting better. If one is looking for work but cannot find a job, it does not feel as if one has achieved anything.

Senator Ó Domhnaill's comment about tearing the heart out of rural Ireland is an evocative statement with which I do not agree. Rural Ireland is a strong place made up of strong people. The more one argues that its heart has been torn out, the more true this statement may become in people's minds because they may start to believe what they hear. I would much prefer to dwell on the strengths of rural areas, especially the west coast.

The launch of the Wild Atlantic Way is a live example of how we can create a spirit in a part of the country that has never been able to attract the level of investment enjoyed by Dublin, Cork and to some extent Galway. I would like the Action Plan for Jobs to contain a real recognition that the west coast is the lagging region. While I am aware that there are many economic terms to describe the position of the west, it has lagged behind other regions, not only in the lifetime of the Government. How can we address this issue and create a new feeling for the west coast? The Wild Atlantic Way was originally a terrific tourism idea, one which I continue to support.

Ironically, the Wild Atlantic Way was created as a tourist idea. It is a great one which I support. However, in a way it tells a different story in that it is a whole new way of presenting the west of Ireland in a new economic framework. We should use that as an example of how we can build on strengths. One looks at the secrets of the Wild Atlantic Way and one sees Ireland's teardrop, the last sunset and the wreckage of the Spanish Armada. In fact, what is valuable on the west coast is not foreign direct investment. There has not been as much of that, although what there has been is valuable. What is important is the heritage and culture. Senator Mary Ann O'Brien spoke about welcoming investment in cultural activity. I echo her comments and where she has put a zero on it, I would put two. That is the place where we have the capacity and potential to change the economic fortunes in the region. It is not just about small businesses. If we can realise our cultural potential, that also has the capacity to create jobs. When I look at the figures for investment in the area, I see that we are still scrabbling and arguing over thousands of euro here and there for the sorts of projects we need to inspire.

People come to Ireland from around the world because they know we have this amazing history and cultural richness that one does not find elsewhere. I had a meeting recently in Sligo which a couple of Dutch people attended. They said "but you were there all of you and you could think of so many people in your culture now that you admire and aspire towards". One said that in the Netherlands, they could think of three. It was a remarkable observation, which was not sought. We are almost neglectful of what is on our doorstep because we have such an abundance of it. While one must encourage foreign direct investment and all the various industries, not least the food industry, medical devices and information technology, we need a new idea for the west coast. It comes down to the potential for tourism which is closely linked with our culture, architectural heritage and coastline. These are the riches we have.

The Western Development Commission has been doing great work in terms of the creative edge and its own predictions for jobs. The body says that 11,000 people are already employed in creative industries in the west. That is a lot of people. While there are targets to grow those numbers, it may be a matter of the commission being enhanced. The body has not commissioned me to say this but it is central to that core with Fáilte Ireland. We need to stop the lagging for once and for all. The whole of Ireland would benefit. If we build up the Wild Atlantic Way and the ideas that go with it, it will benefit the rest of the country also. I am not here to say "Stop all other activity". That is also very important. However, having grown up away from the west coast, I see the difference when people think "We have always lagged". I would like to see a start to the end of that. There is potential. I see huge enthusiasm in the people of the west of Ireland. They are not having their hearts torn out. What the Senator said is not true. We have the capability to build up the strengths that are there. The Minister is positioned to drive it through lots of other organisations which are already doing some of the work.