Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy's contribution certainly deserves a response. As he knows, my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, is actively engaged on this issue and is examining how we can fulfil our obligations in this regard. An implementation plan is due at the end of the year.

The Minister is examining issues such as social clauses and there is a commitment to introduce the latter in Ireland for the first time.

We are also considering the position with regard to social enterprise. The Minister of State at my Department, Deputy Sherlock, is examining the possibilities in this area. Our entrepreneurship review is looking specifically at youth entrepreneurship as an area in which there is potential. When discussing matters with employers, I take every opportunity possible to promote the JobBridge, JobsPlus and MOMEMTUM programmes. These are well designed and they have the potential to make an impact. We need to ensure that there is greater take-up in respect of them.

It is encouraging that in the past 12 months some 20,000 young people have left the live register in order to take up employment. There is movement in this regard but the level of unemployment remains unacceptably high. I must point out, however, that the figures released earlier today show that the rate of unemployment among young people has fallen by 4.5%. That is a significant drop. Young people were certainly the victims of the collapse in employment, be it as a result of last in, first out policies or the fact that the market was sluggish. There were no new opportunities on offer and young people certainly bore the brunt of what occurred. Today's figures show for the first time that the balance is in the process of being redressed to some degree. The latter is due, to a certain extent, to the impact of the measures in question. However, there is also the fact that our recovery is more broad-based in nature and is no longer being driven by the ICT sector and a few others. Employment is increasing in nine out of ten sectors at present and those getting jobs include people in skilled trades and individuals in low skilled occupations. A variety of opportunities are emerging in the labour market, which is a good omen in the context of the measures in question providing young people with a leg up.