Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)

The Government is strongly committed to implementing a jobs and growth strategy. We intend announcing a jobs initiative as committed to in the programme for Government on 10 May. I anticipate that necessary legislation to give effect to the measures outlined in the jobs initiative will be published shortly thereafter.

The programme for Government sets out in broad terms the measures that will be implemented as part of this initiative. The measures are designed to lift public morale and confidence in the economy, to provide jobs, to provide suitable job placement for unemployed persons and to encourage spending by consumers.

In terms of the specific detail, officials from my own and Deputy Howlin's Department are working closely with other Departments in preparing the proposals and assessing the quantitative and qualitative impacts. As has been previously signalled, any costs arising in connection with the jobs initiative will have to be counterbalanced by the implementation of offsetting measures. This will ensure that we will continue to underpin our fiscal sustainability while also bringing forward policies to assist economic growth.

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