Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

This is catastrophic. These are the worst unemployment figures ever in the history of the State. That is an increase of over 1,500 jobs lost per working day. The December increase was 17,000 but it doubled in January with 36,500 jobs lost, bringing the total out of work to 327,000. It is a long time since the former Taoiseach, the late Jack Lynch, said if unemployment went over 100,000, the Government should leave office. I do not know if the Taoiseach intends to do that or not.

This is a horrendous situation. I am often struck by the shock on the faces of people——

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