Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I accept fully that the quarterly household survey is the most accurate measure of unemployment, but the live register is still significant. It measures both unemployment and underemployment. It is interesting that since the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment took office, the number on the live register has increased by 21,000 compared to a reduction of 100,000 when his predecessor, Deputy Mary Harney, held the portfolio. By any reasonable benchmark, the Minister, Deputy Martin, has nothing of which to be proud. I also accept the Minister of State's comments on the increase in employment but there has been a greater increase in unemployment, which is best measured by the standardised unemployment rate, SUR. This has hit 4.9% and has increased by 0.5% since the Minister, Deputy Martin, took office.

Is the Minister of State proud of his line manager's record, given the increases in the live register and the SUR and the poor comparison with his predecessor's performance? Does he stand over the Government's budget projection that the SUR will increase to 5.4% this year? Does he think that figure was underestimated and the number unemployed will be even higher than anticipated by the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance last December?

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