Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the issue of unemployment, it remains stubbornly high at 14.8%. I appreciate it is officially a matter for the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, but it is dealt with in the Department of Finance's statement of strategy. It remains stubbornly high and it is difficult to see how it will come down, particularly in the absence of any recovery on the domestic side of the economy with more difficult budgets to come. It is very hard to see where any growth will come from on the domestic side. Where does Mr. Moran see the level of unemployment going? It is currently 14.8%. Does he see it coming down, stabilising at its current level for a period or continuing to increase? What is the Department's view on the jobs crisis?