Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have noticed the discrepancy the Deputy drew to our attention in the last set of figures. What he has said is correct. I cannot explain it to him. It may be because so many women are involved in the public services, such as teaching, nursing, the Civil Service and local authority offices. There are a disproportionate number of women in those areas of employment. There have been redundancies - shedding of numbers - right across the public service. I do not know whether that explains it, but it was a thought that struck me when I saw the figures.

In addition, two of the growth areas have been agriculture and construction, with largely male employment. As the economy begins to grow it will get more complex because as well as people coming off the live register, there will be people coming people from the schools and colleges who would have emigrated and people who had emigrated will come home. In addition, in the case of people from eastern Europe who have established ties here, some of their family members will start coming back again because it would be a fruitful labour market.

If we can correct some of the disincentives to work in the economy, participation rates will increase. If some help could be given in the area the Deputy suggests, participation rates for young married women might increase. That, coupled with the low entry point into the higher rate of income tax, is probably also a factor.