Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

Within the realm of his responsibility, and given that he quoted the figures in response to my supplementary question, can the Minister of State ask the CSO to examine why there has been an increase in the long-term unemployed, by which I mean those out of work for a year or more, including those under the age of 30, from approximately 43,000 to approximately 45,000 in the past year, against the background of an economic performance for which most countries in the European Union would die? My concern is that Irish people are being left behind.

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