Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

If I have the figures correct, the rise to over 371,000 represents a massive increase of more than 16,000. It is appalling that this number of educated, healthy and fit people are expected to walk around with nothing to do. We have been in this House month after month and have heard from the Government benches the necessity for solidarity, constructive proposals and the backing of the country and its people. In fairness, Fine Gael has consistently produced a range of such proposals, and I would like to put two to the Taoiseach again today.

Given the scale of unemployment, the shock caused to people and the loss of dignity and social structure, Fine Gael last week published a detailed document presenting the opportunity to create 100,000 jobs through an economic recovery authority. It would be financed by the National Pensions Reserve Fund, an economic recovery bond and private equity and the document set out a holding company with six commercially driven State companies reporting to the Department of the Taoiseach. It would afford the opportunity to create 100,000 jobs around the country dealing with broadband, renewables, biomass, smart grids, telecommunications and so on. These are real opportunities and not fantasy.

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