Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

In the month of March, unemployment rose in the State by 12,000, the highest monthly increase ever recorded. It is not entirely due to construction because the numbers are equal for men and women. It is not a blip because in the first quarter of this year, we have seen the highest rise in unemployment in a quarter for over 30 years. The previous high was in 1975, in the middle of the oil crisis.

In the first quarter of this year the Government took in €600 million less in tax than expected. On top of that, a report on the number of new house registrations in the month of March shows the figure has fallen to less than 1,000, down 73%. On top of that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, told us there is not a red cent to build a new hospital. Is that true? Is it true that there is not a red cent to build a new hospital and is that an accurate summary of the state of the public finances? Is that the bottom line on the stewardship of Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, of the public purse that there is not a red cent left to build a public hospital?

Can the Taoiseach tell the House the new initiatives, if any, the Government intends to take to deal with the changed and changing economic circumstances in which we find ourselves? Does the Government have plans to protect employment in businesses? What plans exist to provide for those losing employment? What new initiatives does the Government intend to take to deal with the new economic times?

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