Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

I support calls from Senator Fitzgerald and others for a debate on jobs, especially in the light of the figures Senator Healy Eames talked about and which were published yesterday. She indicated that more job losses were announced and in particular referred to the fact that 6,700 of these related to people involved in part-time work. People involved in part-time work tend to be young and they are trying to get onto the jobs ladder for the first time. These are the same people who, this January, were facing cuts in their social welfare payments. They inhabit the environment where the educational opportunities, job placements and third level places have been cut as well. The Government is saying the solution to getting the young into work is to cut social welfare payments, but job opportunities, schooling and college places are also being cut back.

These people did not benefit from a rise in house prices or from tax cuts. They are certainly not benefiting from pension deals, so we urgently need a debate on this matter. This highlights the point made by Senator Ross to the effect that one part of our society can see cuts in pay absolved and changed while in another the young are facing times and circumstances that are becoming ever harsher. Daily, Members on the Government side come to the Seanad to huff and puff about this but when there appeared to be a chance to do something about it last night, they could not even manage to do that. For that reason, it is important to have a debate about this in the Seanad and have the Tánaiste or the Taoiseach present to address these points.