Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to hear an aware and astute man such as Senator Quinn acknowledge and remark on how consumer sentiment is getting stronger. Going around to the doors for the elections, many people told me that in the small and medium enterprise sector, as well as retail, there was a bit of a pick-up, although it was nothing extraordinary. This was in the last quarter of last year and following through to this year.

Yesterday I launched an e-learning network in Dundalk Institute of Technology for further education colleges in the north east region. The message from career guidance personnel in those colleges and the institute in Dundalk was that they were finding it easier to place students in employment. It is necessary to follow our course and stability is very important. People who have worked hard and have been put to the pin of their collar - these people may be in their 40s and have family members in third level education - need a bit of a break from paying the universal social charge or similar measures.

I acknowledge the great achievement of Sinn Féin in different areas. Louth has not been rolled over by a Sinn Féin tsunami; we had eight Fine Gael councillors and we now have seven, with the councillor who lost being replaced by a fellow from the Fine Gael family. We are still there.