Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I ask the Minister of State for a commitment to the House. As Fine Gael spokesman for social protection, I point out that there are 465,000 people unemployed. My colleagues have already raised this point. I want a commitment that the Government will ensure those employed will be the highly educated people unemployed at the moment, not those on large State pensions. I want a commitment that the Government will send a directive to use these people rather than those who are already in receipt of State pensions. Some 465,000 people are unemployed and we have plenty people to do this task. In three weeks time, when we have an election, these people should be used because we do not want people already in employment to be employed at polling booths. With 465,000 people unemployed, we can certainly find the number of people needed. I want a commitment that the Government will now make that decision. There is great anger among the people and they do not want to see anyone coming to their doors who is already getting a big pension, having left his or her job at 50 years of age. I want a commitment that unemployed people will get those jobs.

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