Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The figures are due out at 11 o'clock. When seasonal factors are taken into account, the live register for June is estimated at 413,500, a month on month increase of 11,400, up 2.8% since May 2009. It is the slowest rate of increase since January. Obviously it is still clear that the unemployment situation continues to be affected as we implement the three necessary aspects of recovery - bringing order to the public finances, improving competitiveness in the economy and reforming the banking system.

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