Mr. John Callinan:

The next question was from Deputy Kyne in respect of the conditions for employment, the factors affecting it and the broader EU initiative. The unemployment crisis is so severe that one of the ideas we keep using among ourselves is to leave no stone unturned. Whether the initiative produces one job or 1,000 jobs, every avenue and angle must be pursued. There is no instant fix so we must fight on every front. That applies to domestic measures and to having the optimal international and European conditions.

In respect of specific initiatives at EU level, I will ask my colleague from the Department of Finance, Mr. John McCarthy, to speak about confidence building and its impact.