Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)

In four weeks it will be a year since the people went to the polls to elect a new Government. Central to many people's thoughts when they went into the polling stations was the need for change and particularly the opportunities for employment. Figures have been issued this week indicating that more than 439,000 people are out of work. We all know about people who are leaving our shores because they feel there is no hope for them on this island. The Minister spoke about NewERA and the potential for investment from the National Pensions Reserve Fund. When will we see an investment by the State, using the discretionary portfolio that exists within the National Pensions Reserve Fund of €5.4 billion, invested into job creation opportunities? What the Government is giving people in this city and other places is not satisfactory. People want to know whether there is a chance for investment in job creation and why the Government has not used any moneys from the National Pensions Reserve Fund to date to invest in jobs. We know the rest of the money totalling almost €19 billion or €20 billion has been used to bail out and recapitalise banks. People want to know whether the Government will bring forward real proposals to use the remainder, some €5.4 billion, to help to bail out them and to provide employment for the economy and for them.

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