Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. When I was elected, I said I would give credit where it was due and would not oppose for the sake of opposition. Some 95,000 jobs is quite an achievement, as is economic growth at 4% plus and declining unemployment. I do not want to rain on the Minister of State's parade but, as Senator Barrett said some time ago, let us have cash in the till before we start spending it.

As regards predictions of future growth, I remember a time when they were predicting a soft landing, but the crash that occurred was crazy. I do not care which side of the House the prediction came from, it was clearly generated by the same people who are generating predictions today. We can only go on what we are being told, but let us be careful about how we move forward.

Senator Brennan referred to the preservation of social welfare payments, but many people on social welfare may not necessarily agree with his analysis. We really did make the poor poorer as we worked towards recovery. However, it is a great credit to this Government that we have attracted some of the largest global names for jobs into this country. Our IT sector is powering ahead, but if the Minister of State wants that to continue he had better stop squeezing the third-level sector. He had better start providing lecturers, reducing class sizes and funding further education properly.

Earlier today, I attended the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection which was attended by representatives of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation and the national schools. In the 21st century, we are talking about computers being moved on trolleys between classrooms, which does not bode well for the future.

We must start considering where we will spend our money. Senator Daly spoke about public service pay and was afraid that we in the Oireachtas might get a few bob. I am afraid that anybody might get a few bob before we start fixing the services.