Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I do not expect it to come up on the agenda because it has already been devolved to the Ministers responsible for finance. If it comes up I will be there to deal with it.

I have noted the unemployment figures from the live register, which are too high. Every job lost is a tragedy for somebody and every job gained is a source of enjoyment and happiness. Considering the difference between the live register figures and the real figure of those unemployed, it is very high in this country. The results of the jobs initiative have not kicked in yet but I hope the impact of that focused attention will bring some relief to those figures. Everybody in the Chamber and outside is concerned about the live register figure and hopes to decrease it. We must do that by growing our economy and confidence, investing in opportunities for employment, removing red tape and bureaucracy and opening the doors for business to flourish.

That is where our focus remains and why we made decisions relating to the banks, the jobs initiative and why we are looking at the way money was spent and the value obtained for it. We hope to prioritise from September onwards what it is we must do in these circumstances to have fairness in our society.

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