Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Can I ask him specifically about job losses, which represent the most important aspect of this country's economic problems? I will list some of the big job losses that have been announced since 1 January last — 1,900 at Dell; 290 at Dublin Bus; 300 at Kostal; 120 at Amann; 400 at Superquinn; 320 at Bus Éireann; 180 at Cigna; 145 at Britvic; 220 at Galmoy Mines; 750 at Ulster Bank and First Active; and 1,000 in local authorities. Many more people have lost their jobs in shops, restaurants, architects' practices, solicitors' practices and building sites.

Some 154,000 people were on the live register 18 months ago, on the day of the 2007 general election. That number has doubled since then and is predicted by some commentators to increase to 420,000 by the end of this year. Can the Taoiseach give the House details of the total cost to the Exchequer, taking social welfare payments, secondary benefits and lost tax revenue into account, of the addition to the live register of 120,000 people over the past year? Similarly, can he give the House an estimate of the additional cost to the Exchequer of an increase in unemployment to 420,000 by the end of this year?

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