Seanad debates

Wednesday, 26 June 2019

Summer Economic Statement 2019: Statements

 

10:30 am

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and the summer economic statement. When the previous Government came into office in 2011, the country was literally on its knees and the Republic was in peril. Not too many people understand that now. In the past seven or eight years, Government has managed our finances. As stated earlier, unemployment, after peaking at 16% in 2012, is now below 4.5% and our enterprise-based economy is creating more than 1,500 jobs a week.

This Government often gets accused of a false claim that most of the jobs are being created in Dublin and the cities. This could not be further from the truth. Some 150,000 jobs have been created outside Dublin since the start of 2016, surpassing the Government's regional target of 135,000. Nearly seven out of every ten jobs, or 68%, are created outside of Dublin. Unfortunately, there is the threat of Brexit.

It is encouraging to note that the Border region is not getting left behind. For example, the number of people in employment increased by 5,800 in the Border region in the past 12 months. This is an annual change of 3%. The unemployment rate for the Border has also dropped to 3.8%, lower than the State average, and the live register numbers have fallen in all five Border counties - Donegal, Monaghan, Cavan, Sligo and Leitrim - in the past 12 months.

I am delighted that in my own region the growing economy has allowed me, as a public representative, to secure vital investment since my party took office in 2011. This investment has helped to deliver a range of flagship projects, including the €60 million Ballaghaderreen bypass; the €20 million investment programme at Roscommon County Hospital; the launch of the emergency aeromedical service, which has saved hundreds of lives; the multi-million euro investment in Lough Key forest; a primary care centre in Boyle; a community nursing unit for Ballinamore; and a new community school in Ballinamore. I also worked to secure funding for the N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin bypass and the N61 between Boyle and Roscommon. We are delighted that Sligo has been designated a regional hub, a key economic centre for the north west. With its infrastructure, Sligo is perfectly placed to drive growth in areas such as south Donegal, Sligo county, Leitrim and Roscommon.

However, there are issues. The main issue is Brexit. I am back and forth to Westminster and the lack of understanding of the island of Ireland and of the Good Friday Agreement is worrying. I pay tribute to Labour MPs, such as Mr. Tom Watson, and Conservative MPs, such as Mr. Dominic Grieve. Mr. Grieve MP comes from a different perspective than I - I think he comes from the same perspective as Senator Marshall - but he understands the Union and what Brexit could do to it. We are on the same side because we understand it. As he stated, a no-deal Brexit is a catastrophe and he does not want to go down in history as an MP who facilitated this. People are beginning to come to this realisation. I think they understand that. However, we are in the centre of a madness that is effectively a Conservative leadership battle and people will promise whatever one is having oneself to become leader.The prize is to be Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. People have to come to their senses because there is no upside to Brexit for the island of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the EU. I hope they will come to our senses eventually. The vast majority of the MPs and Lords at Westminster, if they could get their way, would reverse this awful decision to opt for Brexit. I hope common sense will prevail in the coming weeks and months.

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