Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leader for a debate on the Action Plan for Jobs 2015. I welcome today's publication of the action plan, which Chambers Ireland has welcomed. It has been widely welcomed and it is undisputed that the plan is working. Since the first launch of An Action Plan for Jobs at the initiation of the Government's programme, approximately 1,000 actions have been implemented across Government Departments to support job creation. The figures speak for themselves. Since then, an extra 80,000 people are at work and unemployment has fallen from 15% to 10.6%. Although unemployment is still too high, the trend is very welcome and everyone will join in welcoming it. Although when the action plan for jobs was initially launched in February 2012, people thought the target of having an extra 100,000 people at work by 2016 was overly ambitious, it appears we will meet the target early, during 2015.

Now, it appears that we will be meeting that target early, during 2015. The action plan is speaking for itself.

I also welcome some of the specific measures in the announcement today, in particular the regional enterprise strategy to ensure each region will have a target of job creation measures. I know many colleagues have raised concerns that job creation is stronger in Dublin and urban centres than outside cities. It is important to note that there will be a specific stress on regional development. Regional enterprise strategies will include competitive funding initiatives of up to €25 million and that is most welcome. I call on the Leader for a debate on the matter. I know we have had regular debates on jobs and on the action plan but we could well continue in that vein now that we have the new Action Plan for Jobs 2015.

I support the comments made by Senator Norris yesterday on the controversy over Coláiste Eoin in Stillorgan in Dublin. It was reported this week that the school had cancelled or perhaps postponed a workshop on homophobic bullying to be hosted by the voluntary organisation ShoutOut which had conducted workshops in the school previously. The group was told, it seems, without any notice, that the workshop could not go ahead on the basis that the board had decided both sides of the argument should be represented. As Senator Norris rightly said, this is a case of someone's interpretation of the McKenna judgment gone mad. Clearly, there is absolutely no issue about balance when we are talking about seeking to prevent and stamp out homophobic bullying in schools.

We all know the extreme misery caused by homophobic bullying. The initiatives taken by the former Minister, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, initially and others in schools throughout the country to prevent homophobic bullying must be supported. Any suggestion that they could be objected to in some way is of great concern and I support Senator Norris in this regard. I realise we have had a debate before on the national plan on preventing and curbing homophobic bullying and I call on the Leader for further debate to address this serious issue in our schools.