Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to return to what Senator Craughwell has said about the Web Summit. It is important that we make every effort to bring back the Web Summit, which will not be hosted in Ireland next year. However, we have to put the matter in context. On the radio this morning, severe and unjustified criticism was levelled at IDA Ireland. All the State agencies have worked very hard to bring new industries to this country and to create new jobs. There is proof of that: the unemployment rate is down again this month, to 9.3%. I wish it were lower but steady progress has been made and it is clear evidence that all the State agencies are working very hard to assist people in finding employment. The criticism this morning was unjustified.

Some 35,000 people will attend the Web Summit. The event relates to a very technical area and many people are travelling from all over the world to attend. We must consider the number of people who attend other events held in this country. We are able to organise such events very efficiently and without difficulty. For example, a person to whom I spoke this morning referred to the National Ploughing Championships. Some 281,000 people attended those championships - which were organised in a very efficient and effective manner - this year. There is no reason we cannot organise the Web Summit in the same way here in Dublin. Whatever difficulties arose need to be examined but people should not be blaming the Ministers, the Government or the State agencies.They have done everything in their power to assist the organisers. We must go back to the drawing board to see what can be done to bring it back in the years ahead.