Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

If it does not apply in a global sense, then it would not work were Ireland to have such a disadvantage applied.

I have made this point to the Deputy many times already but the Government did not cut primary social protection rates. It has removed 330,000 people from the universal social charge obligations. Moreover, another 30,000 people benefited from the reversal of the minimum wage rate on foot of negotiations with the troika and a range of exemptions are in place in this regard. However, the answer is employment and this is the reason the Government is focused on the action plan for jobs and on opening up such opportunities, providing retraining, upskilling and a change of direction, as well as on the JobBridge and Pathways to Work programmes and so on, for as many people as possible. As I pointed out earlier, 11,000 additional jobs have resulted in the food and hospitality sector because of the change in the PRSI rate for lower-paid workers, as well as the reduction in the VAT rate in the hospitality sector.

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