Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

I am disappointed with the vary narrow agenda the Minister is pursuing. The ESRI has told us we face 300,000 extra people out of work. Unemployment is growing at twice the rate of any other country in Europe or any of our competitor countries. The Minister's strategy is simply to pursue the economy down. His tax increases offer no hope, vision or chance for people to see something worthwhile for their effort.

The number of initiatives in other countries is startling. There are initiatives on tax deferral, carrying back losses, accelerated depreciation for certain key investments, deferrals of due date, prompt payments from the State, reduction of compliance costs for small businesses and cutting VAT for small business to generate activity. Other governments, which are facing much less stress in their labour markets than we, are developing such initiatives.

Why will the Minister not look at the job protection agenda allowing small businesses the scope to retain employees? Instead, they are having to tell workers who have served them well for many years that the doors are closing and they are being let go.

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