Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

These statistics, as the Taoiseach knows, reveal that the unemployment figure in the first four months of the year — up to 17 April — has risen by 94,000. That is on top of an increase of 120,000 in 2008. It is rising twice as fast for young workers as for older workers. Behind those statistics dwell some grim facts — business people seeing their lives' work destroyed as they have had to close their doors; and families terrified that their jobs will be the next to go as the ESRI tells us that another 300,000 are to be added to the total. That would put unemployment levels above 600,000. These are appalling figures.

People's confidence is sapped because they see a Government without any strategy for employment. What is the Government's strategy? The Taoiseach may say that Fine Gael's strategy does not have all the answers. However, we have set out clearly a major investment in the infrastructures that are needed for the future and which will not cost the Exchequer a red cent because it will soak up investment that is out there looking for a home, money that needs a home and which can transform our economy instead of lying wasted in international shares. We have proposed a reduction in PRSI for those who are expanding employment. We have proposed a cut in VAT to give a break to people, particularly in labour intensive service areas, who are trying to get things going again. We have suggested small business loans to target the businesses that are struggling the most. The Taoiseach may say these are not the correct options, but what is the Government's strategy?

Consider the situation in the countries with which we are competing. In the United Kingdom, for example, the Government is reducing tax burdens for small businesses and giving VAT breaks. Canada is introducing accelerated tax allowances to encourage private investment. The United States Government has a major infrastructural investment in the green economy. Every economy has a strategy based on protecting jobs and defending employment. Where is the Government's strategy? What we saw in the recent budget was the very opposite, offering a blinkered view of the world. The Taoiseach and his Government are smarting from criticism from their backbenchers that they are out of touch and paralysed, that they are unaware of what businesses need, are not responding to that need, and that a cosy circle is dictating policy. This is nothing to the fury the Government will encounter from ordinary people who are seeing their life prospects and those of their children going up in smoke.

We need a comprehensive strategy that has reform and job protection at its heart. The Government is yet to produce that, but it is what the country is crying out for. People are already saying that the Government, which brought us into this, cannot lead us out of it. The Green Party is saying that in regard to the banking sector. More and more people are now saying it about the Government.

See this speech in context