Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

However, it is a significant protocol. The announcement was made at the IBF's buildings. We discuss the need to support people facing financial crises owing to personal indebtedness, but the protocol is one way of doing so.

Another positive support related to a placement service to provide work experience to young graduates and people who had never been able to find work. The announcement was good news because people will be able to hold on to social welfare payments while participating in their work placements, which will give them an opportunity to gain enough experience to enter the workplace. However, the announcement was not noticed.

The Government has taken valuable initiatives while recognising the difficulties in which we find ourselves. In view of this, the House needs to vote confidence in this Government, not because of what has done over a long number of years, but because we are getting to grips with the problems as they are there now and are setting out the policies to support the vulnerable and encourage people back into work and, more particularly, to get the wider economic and financial system in this country back in operation.

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