I second the amendment proposed by Senator Wilson. I support Senator Brennan in welcoming the proposed new jobs for the Dundalk area and compliment all those involved in securing them. Coming from the opposite end of the country, my initial reaction is that of the dog in the manger in that for many years now the only announcements in regard to jobs in my area have been job losses.

The Senator should raise the matter with the Minister, Deputy Deenihan.

Senator O'Sullivan without interruption please.

There is a need to address the clear imbalance in terms of industrial development and investment between the Pale and the west of Ireland. It was Benjamin Disraeli who in the 19th century famously described England as being made up of two nations. There are two nations in Ireland in terms of rural Ireland getting an unfair crack of the whip.

Hear, hear.

Following the recent local elections there are now approximately 1,000 new men and women working away in their new councils on matters relevant to the council, committee work, representation on education boards, regional forums and so on. They will also have to take on additional work because there are no longer any town councils and the regions are larger and will be far more difficult and costly for them to service. It is surprising, therefore, that on the day the results were announced the Minister, Deputy Hogan, announced swinging cuts in subsistence and travel expenses for county councillors. In my view, that was the most unseemly and untimely act of all time. There is no such thing any more as a part-time councillor. Most people, including the Cathaoirleach, who came up through that system, know well that a councillor's job is a full-time job that deserves full pay and pension, contributory or otherwise.

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister, Deputy Hogan, to the House to outline the duties of these new councillors and their entitlements. I look forward to putting in place a proper regime of rewards and payments for them.