Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)

As I said earlier, the two-month criteria would be almost impossible to meet given the data that would be available, and the Minister responded to this effect in his answer. However, we should look to have some type of report or review carried out on an interim basis, and we should not have to wait for the full review. An opportune timescale would be to have a six-monthly report prior to budget 2012. We should be analysing what effect these measures are having on employment and the other categories to which I referred.

I say this in support of many of the measures contained within the Bill. As I indicated, we have major issues with the pension levy but the other measures are to be welcomed. I am not arguing for this review on the basis that we should have one so we can prove this does not work. We are all hopeful that there will be increased employment and tourism and all of the other spin-offs for the economy as a result of these measures. However, the principle should be that we would review the decisions we make on a continuous basis, within reason, and this should be carried on to other measures and decisions taken by Government in regard to financial issues, and should be central to Government decision making. Although the amendment refers to a period of two months, that could be extended to six months so we would have some type of interim review based on the best information available to us as to the effect of the measures in the Bill.

The Minister has stated a number of times that he makes no extravagant claims, as none of us in the House would, that this jobs budget will result in a huge upturn in employment. We all know from the CSO that since the Government took office, unemployment has risen. It would be very unfair of me to attribute that to those on the Government benches as it is a legacy the Government has inherited from previous Administrations. Nonetheless, the trend is for increased unemployment. Given the fact the Government indicated its intention is to create 100,000 jobs, and the Minister argues that this jobs initiative will see a modest number of jobs created, I am interested to know if the Minister can indicate, if not the exact figure, a range or ballpark figure in terms of what "modest" means. Out of the 100,000 jobs to which the Government is committed to creating, does the Minister expect it to create five, 500, 5,000 or 50,000 jobs? We need some kind of measure.

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