Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)

If jobs were the top priority, there would be empirical evidence to show the Minister's proposal would create jobs. The report states there is no empirical evidence to show there will be a net increase in jobs as a result of some of the Government's proposals. On the other hand, the Minister has admitted the policies the Government will implement will result in a reduction in wages. What we will have, therefore, is a policy defined on a hunch rather than empirical evidence, which will definitely reduce wages while failing to create jobs. Have other issues such as the Croke Park agreement been put on the table to placate Labour Party Deputies with regard to negotiations with the social partners on the joint labour committees?

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