George Lee (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

Given the pace of the adjustments, the Minister will not only stop the engine of growth for female jobs by making the public sector smaller. He will also put it into reverse. The two engines of employment growth will be in reverse at a time when we are trying to get out of a problem. Is there a level of unemployment and emigration at which the Minister might say enough is enough or maybe the unions have a point about the pace being too difficult for a small open economy?

Mr. Colm McCarthy, the economic consultant on whose advice the Minister is basing much of his approach to cuts, attended a meeting of the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service last week.

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