IDA investment in the regions
The Leader responded to criticism from Senators Hopkins and Gallagher by citing increased IDA jobs in the west and Border regions and low youth unemployment in Monaghan. Gallagher insisted indigenous employment mattered, and the Leader repeated the figures and defended the Government's record.
Senators Hopkins and Gallagher raised the issue of IDA Ireland visits. I remind both Members that last year the number of jobs created by IDA Ireland increased by 5% in the west and 4% in the Border region. That is to be welcomed. Senator Gallagher will also welcome that Monaghan is the county with the lowest level of youth unemployment in the country.
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I mentioned indigenous companies which create employment.
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I know the Senator does not want to hear good news. It is anathema to him. However, he might do me the courtesy of listening.
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If the Senator will not do me that courtesy, he should do IDA Ireland the courtesy of listening to the facts. First, in 2017, there were 11,169 IDA Ireland jobs in the Border region, which is a 4% increase. That is a fact, not fiction. Second, Monaghan is the county with the lowest level of youth employment in the country. That is also a fact, not fiction.
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If the Senators do not want to have the facts, that is fine and we will not have a debate. They should not, however, come in here criticising when our country has the lowest number of people unemployed ever. We are at full employment.
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That is down to the hard-working people of County Monaghan who have created indigenous jobs.
They are not Government jobs.