Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

This morning, we learned that the Government is considering a fund of €1 billion for job protection. This would be welcome in so far as it would show that, at last, employment is on the radar. However, I would ask hard questions about it. If we are to have a selective scheme that focuses on just 10% of the manufacturing sector, which constitutes approximately 15% of employment, what will it do? Will companies spend all of their time trying to find out whether they can get past some bureaucrat to avail of the aid, will it postpone the necessary adjustment or will it reduce sustainable costs for everyone, namely, the cost of doing business, thereby giving every business a chance to survive in this difficult time? I wonder about the direction of that intervention. I see the need for a much more broad-based strategy to bring down costs generated in the Government sector, and to drive them down in the way Lemass confronted the challenges in the 1950s. I am disheartened by the shape of the strategy being pursued by Government. We need to have a fresh debate. I look forward to a debate, not just about the public finances where difficult decisions must be made, but on the broader strategy of how we protect, create and sustain employment.

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