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

Is it not a fact that this Government is a jobs destruction Government and that the number employed in the economy since the Government came to office has decreased significantly? The CSO figures for 30 June show a decrease of 4,000 jobs. The CSO figures for 30 September show a reduction of 20,500 jobs. Surely that is the definitive judgment on the so-called jobs budget introduced last year. Are we destroying jobs? Is it time for the Government to get involved in the direct creation of jobs and to forget about the idea that the Government is only there to provide the environment for jobs? It is time for the Government to recognise what has happened up to now has been a failure. It needs to get directly involved in the creation of jobs.

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