Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

On coming into office nine months ago, this Government asked to be judged on its success in tackling the jobs crisis. If it succeeds, I and my party will be the first to congratulate it. The retention of existing jobs and the creation of new jobs must be the number one priority for all of us. We can all accept that making inroads into Ireland's unemployment rate will help to solve so many other problems, as the Tánaiste so regularly pointed out in Opposition. It would reduce our social welfare bill, improve our income tax take and increase the disposable income households have. It would be the most painless way of reducing our budget deficit and getting our economy back on track.

On entering office, the Taoiseach promised a jobs budget within 100 days in Government. He delivered a jobs initiative in May that was funded by a raid on private pension savings. I regret that the initiative has so far failed to deliver.

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