Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

Of course the Government has a policy to bring people back to employment and to improve the economy. It requires improving our competitiveness, getting our financial house in order and restoring our banking sector to stability and to the capacity to provide credit to the economy. The Labour Party has consistently chosen to oppose the various measures adopted to advance such policies, which are essential if we are to see a return to employment-creating conditions. I accept there are no easy solutions to this serious problem and of course I am aware of the position reflected in the January live register returns. However, it should be borne in mind that the figures are as predicted at budget time and do not constitute a deterioration on what was anticipated. In every economic crisis, there is a prolongation of unemployment even when the end of the crisis is in sight and regrettably, that is the position in Ireland as well.

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