Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

We are now in a national crisis. Tomorrow the live register figures are expected to show an increase of between 10,000 and 15,000. I do not want to be back here every month looking at spiralling live register figures that represent men and women being made redundant at a time when employment is so critical for us.

In the cut and thrust of debate in the House things that are said can be dismissed for no good reason. Let us consider this national crisis in a positive and constructive fashion, putting our minds together. We have said on numerous occasions that in the short term the Government should reduce the two VAT rates from 21.5% to 21% and from 13% to 10%. We have put forward propositions to slash red tape — a cause of serious concern to small businesses throughout the country — by 25%. We also put forward views on how to reform the regulatory authority to put the consumer, rather than business, first, and suggested that rates be frozen to give businesses a chance to breathe.

The CSO will publish the figures for the live register tomorrow and they may show an increase of between 10,000 and 15,000. I point out constructively that the Fine Gael Party — specifically, Deputies Coveney, Varadkar and Bruton — has produced a serious document on the basis of which we believe 100,000 jobs could be created over four or five years in the areas of clean water, energy, broadband and so on. This would of itself improve the attractiveness of this country as a location for industry while at the same time providing jobs for men and women all over Ireland. In a spirit of dealing with the national jobs crisis, I ask the Taoiseach to arrange for his Ministers to meet with the three senior spokespersons from the Fine Gael Party and officials from the Departments involved to investigate these proposals and their costings in a spirit of constructiveness and decide whether the Government considers there is merit and capacity for job creation in this document.

We can stand up here every week and talk about various proposals from an Opposition party, but this is a serious one. It is about young men and women finding jobs which will of themselves create an attraction for further investment in the country. Rather than the usual promise to examine the issue, I ask the Taoiseach to arrange for the three Ministers involved to meet a formal delegation from the Fine Gael Party, together with the officials, to discuss the merits of our proposals to create 100,000 jobs. That is what the people on the street want. They want to have hope, confidence and a belief that somebody here can point a way towards job creation. We have a serious proposition and I ask the Taoiseach to treat it in a constructive and serious fashion.

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