Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

The Government and the IDA have a pivotal role to play in the continued development of the economy. Globalisation is upon us and it is vital that we continue to be competitive in the world market. To do so, we require serious investment in the country and we need to think hard about where the next benefit to the economy will derive from. In the next five to ten years, there will be new developments worldwide and we must work out how our economy can benefit. We have relied until now on the construction industry, which accounted for 23% of Ireland's GNP last year and in which 13% of the workforce is employed. A significant proportion of our tax intake comes from that industry. That will not last forever, however, because the construction industry is cyclical. We are possibly starting to come down from the top end of the cycle. There is a danger that any economy that relies heavily on the construction industry will suffer at some point. When I graduated as a civil engineer in the 1980s, 38 of the 42 people in my class had to go abroad because there were very few jobs in Ireland. While nobody suggests that we will ever return to those dark days, we cannot continue to rely on a cyclical sector of industry that is currently on the way down. We need to work out where we should target our investment. It is a challenge for the IDA and, more importantly, for the Government, which can control how we develop. I would like the Government to facilitate the growth of indigenous industry. As someone who has set up a business here, I do not think Ireland is one of the easiest countries in which to establish a company. We should learn from other countries.

We should acknowledge the strength of the tourism industry, which is an essential part of our economy with potential for further growth. Some 250,000 people visit Newgrange in county Meath, every year. Many local jobs depend on the continued popularity of that facility. It is hoped that 100,000 people per annum will visit the Battle of the Boyne site, which will be opened soon. Perhaps more jobs will be created in the locality as a result. The Government invested in the tourism products I have mentioned, and it is important that it should continue to do so. Investment of €30 million or €40 million is required if the Boyne Canal is to be reopened. We can expect more jobs to be created in tourism-related enterprises when the canal has been refurbished.

We need to increase the amount of foreign investment in Ireland because we cannot rely solely on indigenous industries such as tourism. It has to be recognised that the IDA played its part in the development of the Celtic tiger. We need to continue to give the IDA the tools to enable it to market the country overseas. The Government should continue to invest in certain areas, such as public transport, to ensure that Ireland remains attractive. Completion of the railway line between Navan and Dublin, for example, will reduce journey times from the capital to the Meath region. Other speakers have mentioned the need to improve our road infrastructure in the context of the lack of connectivity across the country, particularly in the mid-west and the west. It is unacceptable that our major cities and towns are not connected by motorway.

The issue of broadband access, which has been raised throughout this debate, comes up again and again in this Chamber. We need to invest heavily in the roll-out of broadband to all parts of the country so small and medium-sized businesses can benefit from new technologies. Broadband is not a luxury — it is an essential part of doing business. We need to continue to invest not only in primary and secondary education, but in tertiary education and lifelong learning. When people lose their jobs as a result of companies leaving our shores, they should be taught new skills and given additional training to enable them to continue to contribute to the economy. These issues relate to local and central government. It is important for local authorities to zone industrial areas where businesses can locate. My experience, based on my local authority background, is that councillors and planners throughout the country are trying to ensure that locations are available for new businesses. The only problem with the fantastic new business park in Stamullen in County Meath is that broadband is not yet available there, although I believe it is coming.

The Government has a role to play in ensuring that facilities are put in place to allow the IDA to market Ireland as a suitable location for inward investment. As an English-speaking country with a well-educated workforce and competitive and advantageous tax rates, we have a great deal to offer to potential investors. The Lonely Planet guide yesterday rated Ireland as the friendliest country in the world. Ireland is a good place for companies to base themselves. As the IDA is responsible for marketing, it cannot provide infrastructural links such as broadband and transport facilities. That is the Government's job. It is vital that the Government gives the IDA the tools it needs. As Senator Ross said, some international investors are worried about whether they should invest here in the absence of certain services like those I have mentioned. We do not want the IDA to have to answer questions about these matters. The Government needs to give the IDA all the resources it can and to put infrastructure in place to ensure the IDA does not have to answer questions from potential investors.