Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for her reply. She referred to the OECD unemployment projections and everyone accepts it will increase across the world. What was left out of her reply was the fact that of all the OECD countries, Ireland has the second highest standardised unemployment rate. Only Spain has a higher rate. That is a real change and shows how much worse matters are in Ireland than in other countries.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment projected the standardised unemployment rate will reach 13.75% next year. What will this mean in raw numbers? How many additional net persons will be on the register?

Does she believe the scale of her response is adequate? I accept there is a stabilisation fund with €50 million and the temporary employment subsidy with €20 million and another €30 million to come and more schemes. However, the Government was able to find €7 billion to overpay the banks. Could the Government find at least €1 billion to support employment?

Will it introduce schemes such as those proposed by Fine Gael like reducing employers' PRSI contributions, maintaining the capital budget to build more schools and invest in infrastructure to create jobs rather than pay people to have longer holidays? Will it create internships for graduates and short-time working like they have in Germany?

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