Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

That relates to a different area but I will comment on it. Interesting data have been published today in the latest quarterly national household survey on employment. Deputy Quinn raised the issue of manual workers in industry. Over the past five years, up to December 2005, hourly earnings for those workers grew by 32.8% and prices rose in the same period by 17.3%, which paints a different picture from that in the Deputy's question. In the ten years to December 2005 hourly earnings of manual workers in industry grew by 67.5% and prices rose by 35.5%. There is a duty on all of us to ensure the social partnership discussions on the minimum wage focus on the plight of lower paid workers.

This morning I read the most recent quarterly national household survey and Deputy Quinn's question is relevant to what is contained therein. Employment has increased by almost 90,000, of which close to 50,000 are foreign nationals. The news on the growth of the economy and on employment growth are good, with almost 2 million people now in work. I held a brief meeting with CSO officials on the figures this morning and there is strong growth in construction, in wholesale and retail and in the financial and business sectors. The areas where we need to be vigilant about the potential for displacement include food processing, hotels and restaurants. The Government and the social partners will exercise vigilance in these areas but the overall picture painted by the quarterly national household survey is positive, with many new jobs created for Irish people and non-nationals.

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