Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute on the Finance Bill. While it is important that the Parliament deals with it and the budget, it is worth noting that this Bill does not go far enough in addressing the economic crisis.

Yesterday's jobs announcement was a reheated version of a series of other announcements. Between the two documents, there is nothing particularly new. The Government, when it came to office, identified, along with everyone else, the lack of jobs and the level of emigration. Prior to the election the NewERA document was produced and it was to result in 100,000 jobs. Last April a series of measures was announced that would create 100,000 jobs by 2015. Yesterday's announcement again referred to 100,000 jobs. I am not sure whether they are the same 100,000 jobs or whether they are in addition to those referred to in the NewERA document. The deadline for creating the 100,000 jobs has now been extended to 2016. I see no measure in this Finance Bill that would in any way indicate that the framework exists to create the jobs.

I am not being critical of the people opposite, who have a difficult job. The Minister of State, Deputy John Perry, is doing his best for small businesses in a very difficult environment.

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