Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

That answers half of the question I asked. Some 450,000-plus unemployed is a really shocking prospect. What we have to do is not just address the problems in the public finances but address very urgently what can be done to get people back to work and, second, what can be done to provide education, training and meaningful occupation for people who are coming out of work. The prospect that we would have approaching 500,000 people unemployed in the country is a really frightening one which requires very urgent and serious consideration.

I am disappointed the Taoiseach has not told the House when the supplementary budget will be introduced because it is important we know that. I understand the optics of inviting the Opposition parties to make submissions, go in and be briefed, get costings and so forth. The Taoiseach has been in government for 12 years yet he is now asking the Opposition to come up with solutions in a matter of weeks. It would be helpful——

See this speech in context