Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

I do not know whether Deputy Healy got a chance to go to the Mansion House today, where 92 of the most exciting companies in Ireland committed to create 1,600 jobs over the next two and half years across every region. They are the sort of people who will create the economic future of this country. Their story needs to be celebrated more. It would do the Deputy a power of good to go down and feel the energy there.

The record does not show that the jobs initiative was a failure. As the Deputy knows, it cut VAT and PRSI rates for the tourism sector. We secured growth as a result. The employment figures to which he referred show there was growth. We are going through an extremely difficult transition. Some sectors grew beyond sustainable levels in this economy. We know about construction and banking, which grew to unsustainable levels. We now have to undertake the difficult task of rebuilding the sectors that can bring us growth in the future. That is what the action plan for jobs is about.

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