Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)

I thank the Minister for his reply. Would he agree that the policy of relying on the private sector to create jobs and solve the economic and social crisis in this country has failed? He himself stated that the various companies under his umbrella have been successful. In the early years of the State, companies like the ESB, Bord na Móna and the Irish Sugar Company were the key drivers in the economy and in creating jobs in the economy.

We now have a situation where nearly 450,000 people are unemployed. We have lost more than 6,000 jobs since the Government came into office, while another 950 jobs were lost today at Aviva. Merck Sharp & Dohme has announced 40 job losses, while jobs were recently lost at TalkTalk and MBNA. Does the Minister agree it is now necessary for the State to provide investment for State companies to create jobs, because the private sector clearly has failed and cannot deal with our current situation?

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