Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

In respect of the jobs action programme, there are 270 action points. It is fair to say some of these have been around for a very long time and were never followed through or implemented. There is a range of new initiatives to improve the atmosphere and the environment in which business can happen and jobs can be created, and to free up the road blocks that business people, entrepreneurs and innovators say are stopping them from doing their business. I get examples of this on a regular basis.

As to what we have decided to do, a senior public servant in my Department has responsibility for jobs, and he has a number of staff working with him. The two I mentioned are additional staff from Forfás who have come into my Department to assist in the work of monitoring implementation of the 270 action points. It is not just these two people on their own. It is a coterie within the Department of the Taoiseach who have responsibility for jobs and the jobs action programme.

As they are further assisted by the addition of two good people from Forfás I, as Taoiseach, working with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, can see to it that on this occasion, the action plan is implemented. That means one puts the pressure on the Ministers to deliver, so far as their responsibility is concerned, and on the agencies, for whom they have responsibility, to ensure this happens. I hope that as we publish a quarterly report on the action points implemented this will improve the environment and atmosphere generally for business and that what small businesses say to the Minister responsible for SMEs, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, me and everybody else will result in improving the position in terms of companies setting up and being able to do their work. Clearly credit access and microfinance are two important matters in this regard.

It is slightly misleading for me to say that there are just two people monitoring this matter. There is a section in the Department of the Taoiseach which has responsibility for the jobs area and they are being supplemented by two internal people from Forfás, redeployed to the Department of the Taoiseach. I hope it bears results and I expect it will.

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