Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I am not sure what the Deputy's question is. He certainly likes listening to himself. This is a free country and a free society. When the Deputy speaks of glib comments and smart remarks, I understand what can happen in times of challenge when people are under stress. I was the victim of several comments, probably from some of the Deputy's own acquaintances, which are not repeatable in this House.

My philosophy is to make Government decisions that will help this country and its people. Unlike Deputy Boyd Barrett, I really have an interest in creating jobs for our people. Anybody who is out of work and is seeking employment deserves to have the very best opportunity brought about by government decisions and the opportunity to help themselves. The Deputy has pursued a policy of making reckless comments about the Government's decisions in all forms. He has put forward the proposition that a "No" vote would require €10 billion extra in taxes, which would mean that many more people would be out of work, more people would suffer from hardship, and many more people would have to leave our country. I frankly do not share his view. While he is quite entitled to express his opinion, I do not share that. I do not deal in glib comments and I do not deal in demeaning attitudes towards anybody. My job, as head of the Government, is to use the resources of the Government and work with the people to create the opportunities for employment. That is why this programme for Government is focused both on rectifying the problems in our own public finances, but having as a priority the opportunity for business to be able to thrive and for people to be able to go to work.

I empathise with everybody who wants to work but who cannot find employment, or who does not have the opportunity to retrain themselves or up-skill themselves to find employment. That is where the emphasis of the Government is being placed, through the JobBridge scheme, Pathways to Work, the jobs initiative and the various facilities that are being made available for small and medium enterprises and for very small businesses to employ new people and create that sense of confidence in our local economies.

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