Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

I take issue with the Deputy with regard to the Government not having a jobs strategy. Governments do not create jobs, but create the environment in which jobs can be put in place. I am satisfied the Government has a strategy that will create jobs. Take for example the IDA Ireland programme, Horizon 2020, which will create a number of jobs through a programme that will run from 2010 to 2014. It is specific with regard to the number of jobs and projects it will create. More than 67,000 jobs will be created over this short period of time, but the agency is confident it can meet its targets and is going about its business in a professional manner. Enterprise Ireland also has a strategy to create jobs leading to 2014. Therefore, we have synergised the foreign direct investment and the growth and promotion of the indigenous sector.

We have also introduced the stabilisation fund and the employment subsidy scheme. All of these measures have had a massive impact during what has been an extremely trying period. If the Deputy looks at the indications-----

See this speech in context