Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

It is because we have such a problem with unemployment that the cost of social welfare is so high. The massive numbers of people who have lost their jobs since this Government took office, the cost of retaining people on social welfare payments and the loss of tax revenue to which the increase in unemployment has given rise account for the huge gap of €6 billion in the public finances. The figures support my argument and the Minister cannot deny that. The Government's greatest shortcoming has been its failure to protect employment or to take action in respect of the loss of jobs.

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