Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)

This is a very important motion. However, Government Members do not appear to understand the groundswell that is occurring under their noses. This morning, 252,000 people were on the live register, 100,000 of whom were working last year and did not expect to be made unemployed. What is worse, however, is that the Government has no idea of how to address the crisis before the next 100,000 become unemployed. It is certainly not coming up with suggestions.

The Government claims that it brought the budget forward in order to clearly demonstrate the principles on which a recovery would be based. In my 30 years in this House, however, I have never seen a more disruptive budget. It answered nothing and as every day passes different sectional interests pressure the Government into changing its mind. Far from creating even a single job, the budget will result in further unemployment. This is one of the misfortunes we are facing.

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