Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Deputy's question wanders over the Cooley Mountains. He proceeded from talking about the debt to children of the Government to a whole range of issues. It is the duty and responsibility of the Government to govern fairly and in the best interest of the people. That is why, after these short few months, the truth of what we are finding is unfolding. We will have to deal with it with a sense of courage and fairness. Of course I have heard the reports on disadvantage and meet people regularly who are disadvantaged and feel isolated and left behind. They have been left behind and evidence of this was brought to the nation's attention in a television programme last evening.

I am quite sure the Deputy wants to play his part in this Oireachtas by supporting Government initiatives for job creation and getting people back to work. I do not want us to continue to have over 440,000 people on the live register. What we need from the other side of the House is constructive debate on job creation, initiatives to create employment and free up employers to take on new employees, such that we can grow the indigenous economy and continue to avail of the potential that exists for the export market in a range of areas. Everywhere I go around the country, I meet entrepreneurs and business people who are interested in focusing on getting back to work. They need credit for their businesses, and need restrictions, red tape and bureaucracy removed. They want to be able to take on some of the people on the live register who are unemployed and feeling the pinch because of the country's economic circumstances. That is the challenge facing the Government. It is not just a question of debt. While I acknowledge debt is critical, it is also a question of duty and responsibility. In respect of these two areas, the Government will live up to the mark.

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