Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I can assure the Deputy it is not the rate he mentioned. The Government has introduced a number of plans, including the action plan for jobs and the JobBridge scheme. These are all positive initiatives to reduce the rate of unemployment. Since Saturday the Taoiseach has been in China, where 1.3 billion people live, in order to encourage foreign direct investment. This is all part of encouraging people to do business in Ireland and to get them here. I believe we took our eye off the ball in recent years and we need to get back into that marketplace again to encourage people to come to Ireland. Ministers who visited different countries for St. Patrick's Day have brought some very positive news from those countries.

There is no doubt that we have a problem but, as a Government, we are doing our best to solve the problem and get people back to work. Everyone in this House knows somebody who has lost a job. They can often have no confidence in themselves. However, when they get back into employment their confidence goes straight up again and it gives them a new sense of life and hope.

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