Mr. John McKeon:

It wanted us to include specific targets which had not been included because they were whole-of-government figures for employment and unemployment generally. We have agreed to include them.

One of the targets related to the overall employment rate among adults of working age in this State, which is approximately 65% at present. I suggested that we should set a target of between 71% and 73% by the end of the relevant period and that has been agreed. The Labour Market Council suggested that we should set a target of between 5% and 6% for the overall unemployment rate and we have agreed to incorporate that. The council also suggested that we should set a target of reducing the long-term unemployment rate to 2.2%. This is the only one we modified a bit. I think it can be inferred from current Government documents that there is a target of just over 3% at present. We have agreed to reduce that to 2.5%, rather than 2.2%. A target of 2.2% would be a very significant stretch. We have agreed to 2.5%. If my memory serves me right - I ask the Chair not to quote me on this - the council suggested that we should set an overall target of 12% for the youth unemployment rate and we have accepted that.