The Taoiseach referred to a report he was reading last night in anticipation of his trip to Davos. I see this morning that the most recent ESRI report is concerned about Dublin-centric economic activity. I have been raising that issue and I tabled a question to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, on it yesterday. Is it okay to continue, a Cheann Comhairle? Does Deputy Dooley find everything around here funny, including dipping his hand into that box not once but twice?

No, please.

Now that I find funny.

The Deputy did it.

Me?

No. I was referring to Deputy Dooley, who interrupted me. He finds everything funny.

This is the latest report expressing concern, at a European level, about all the economic activity taking place in Dublin to the disadvantage of the rest of the country. Such activity is not viable. Sixty per cent of the people live in rural Ireland. I note what the report says. When will the Taoiseach start listening? In his reply to my parliamentary question, the Minister for Finance said he did not agree with me. However, the ESRI's report echoes what I said. We can all see it when we are trying to get in and out of the city. We see the cranes on the skyline. We do not begrudge anything happening in Dublin, but we want some balance in terms of investment in rural Ireland. The report refers to every place outside Dublin. The Taoiseach might have a look at it before he goes off to Davos.

I will have a look at it. The ESRI is not a European body. It is a Government agency that has compiled this report on our behalf. The report is very good. It is also very realistic-----

I cannot hear the Taoiseach.

-----because it says that if we do nothing, the vast majority of population and economic growth will happen in Leinster, in the greater Dublin area. It does not say that we should cap or stop growth in Dublin and Leinster. That is not practical. We all know that in a free country and in the real world we cannot tell people where to live, open their businesses or shop but the report states that if we do nothing, more than half of population and economic growth will happen in Leinster so we need to take action to rebalance that in some way.

I cannot hear the Taoiseach with all the noise.

In particular, the report recommends that we should focus on the other big cities - Cork, Waterford, Limerick and Galway - and that will be very much at the centre of the national planning framework when it is published. That will not be at the exclusion of growth in rural Ireland and other places but the ESRI report is clear and stark in that regard. If we do nothing, too much of the population growth will happen in Dublin and Leinster. If we do something and if we put together a realistic plan, half the growth will still happen in Dublin and Leinster, but we might be able to get half of it in the rest of the country as well. That is what we want.

It is about balance.