Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree we should have a debate on the matter and I will try to get the Minister to come before the House for that purpose.

Senators White and Mullins has also asked for a debate with the Minister on the Action Plan for Jobs and the regional plans that have been announced. The action plan has been one of the major positive achievements of the Government with the unemployment rate now under 9%. That is a wonderful achievement given from where we have come with more than 15.5% of the population unemployed when the Government took office. Let us hope that we can continue to improve this rate. At just under 9%, it is still too high. We have a great deal more to do in respect of this matter.

Senators Landy, Norris and Mullins referred to the proposed €10 million refurbishment of the National Library. That should be welcomed by all. The Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has honoured her commitment to the House and to all those who have pressed for such investment to protect our natural heritage and she should be complimented in this regard.

Senators Mullins and Brennan referred to the €1.2 billion injection of EU Structural Funds, which is welcome.

Senators Ó Clochartaigh, Cahill, Barrett and Bradford raised the impending resignation of Peter Robinson and complimented him on his work on the peace process. They also welcomed the agreement reached in recent days. I do not know whether Senators Ó Clochartaigh and Cullinane were present yesterday but we all welcomed the fact that the institutions would be up and running again. Senator Mooney and I also referred to the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly meeting which took place earlier this week. Politicians from Scotland, Wales and England pointed out that Northern Ireland is in receipt of 23% more in subsidies than they are and they are beginning to kick on that matter. While Senator Cullinane may say the Tory Government is imposing austerity on the people in the North, the people of Wales, England and Scotland are putting down a marker in that regard as well.