Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

There are many matters to which to reply. Briefly, I agree with Professor Blanchflower to the extent that training measures are exceptionally important. However, I should point out that the CSO figures to the end of October will show for the first time that the live register has not increased in the month of October. There is clearly a stabilisation in the growth of unemployment at this stage. I do not accept the Deputy's prediction that it will grow to 500,000. That is no longer an official prediction.

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