Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Ar ndóigh, tá dúshlán mór ag baint leis an obair mhór atá curtha romham ag an Taoiseach. Sílim go bhfuil sé fíor-thábhachtach go dtabharfaimid faoi ceann de na fadhbanna is mó atá os comhair an phobail i láthair na huaire - ceist na dífhostaíochta.

For many years, I have believed that unemployment is one of the greatest challenges that people face. People often think of unemployment purely in terms of income loss. However, it is also about dignity and confidence; the loss of something challenging to do every day; and the loss of connection with workmates. Unemployment has a huge debilitating effect on individuals, families, communities and our nation. We must always look at better ways of doing more with the resources that are there. This will be a great challenge in the coming months and years.

It makes ultimate sense to look at the activation side of the finance we will provide and the income support side to see whether there are ways to get better synergies in terms of those who wind up in the unfortunate situation of being unemployed and try to create a better future for them in the short term and to upskill them and give them opportunities so they get back into the mainstream workforce as speedily as possible.

My new Department faces huge challenges. It faces challenges in protecting the most vulnerable in our society. It brings a new synergy to looking at job activation in its wider context with income support and will provide a one stop shop for people who face the terrible prospect of being unemployed.

In the wider context, the re-organisation announced by the Taoiseach today focuses on the main challenges that face us. We speak about an innovation economy but for that we must have organised best practice for upskilling people so they can avail of the huge opportunities out there. In the re-organisation we will be able to tackle the issues of work and support for people and communities, and of upskilling, training and education. I look forward to the new challenges I face; I know they will be huge but I have no doubt that with the support of my colleagues we will be able to overcome some of the massive challenges we face at this time.

Ba mhaith liom ar deireadh a rá go raibh sé mar phribhléid agam obair sa Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta le blianta beaga anuas. Is minic go raibh na meáin ag caitheamh anuas ar thábhacht na Roinne sin. Tá áthas orm go bhfuil an Roinn sin á láidriú agus go mbeidh fear a oibrigh liom sa Roinn mar Aire Stáit, an Teachta Pat Carey, ar ais sa Roinn sin anois mar Aire sinseareach. Tá mé cinnte go ndéanfaidh sé obair an-mhaith sa Roinn sin. Go minic, ní thuigeann daoine an tábhacht a bhaineann le pobail na tíre seo. Tá an-áthas orm go bhfuil cúramaí breise chomhionannais curtha le sin, mar tagann an dá rud le chéile. Níl aon amhras orm ach go ndéanfaidh an Teachta Carey obair iontach sa Roinn sin. Guím chuile rath air san obair mhór a bheidh á dhéanamh aige. Nuair a ghlacann sé freagracht le haghaidh cúramaí na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta - rud atá an-ghar do chroí an Taoisigh - tá mé cinnte go ndéanfaidh sé an-obair chun an Ghaeltacht a fhorbairt agus chun tabhairt faoi na dúshláin atá roimh ár dteanga náisiúnta. Domsa, is lá fíor-speisialta é an lá seo. Tabharfaidh mé faoi na dúshláin nua atá romham lé fuinneamh agus le díograis. Tá súil agam go mbeidh mé in ann athruithe móra a dhéanamh chun feabhas a chur i rith mo chuid ama mar Aire Cosaint Sóisialta.

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