Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Yesterday I was taken by the Minister for Finance's claim that he will continue to target expenditure and tax measures on those most able to bear the cost. Who is most able to bear the cost? According to the Minister, it is those earning €15,000 per annum. That wage is significantly below the minium wage. How, under any criteria, could that category of earner be described as those best able to bear the burden? It is the most ridiculous assertion I have ever heard and I would like the Minister to explain it.

This week I spent some time with 480 workers at Waterford Crystal, many of whom have been made redundant. They will be part of the 37,000 made redundant since Christmas. The Government talks about the knowledge economy and innovation but where is the job retention strategy? In the case of Waterford Crystal, hundreds of workers have proved over many decades that they have a world class product and brand. While we are talking about all that is good in Ireland, insufficient moves are being made by the Government to save their jobs. Job retention is at least as important as job creation.

Yesterday, for the first time in months, the Minister for Finance spoke about job creation but where is the Government's strategy? Will the Minister tell us of one single idea for job creation the Government produced in the past 12 months?

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