Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

What the Government wants to do for every person, whether employed or unemployed, is to provide the greatest possible opportunity for them to live their lives as they see fit and in their best interests. I share the view of every Deputy regarding people who lose their employment or whose firms fold. That is no shame on anyone. Companies are formed and go out of business on a regular basis, as the Deputy is well aware. For anyone who was self employed or had a business which, unfortunately, came to an end, the Government does not regard that as some sort of failure. We want to look on the other side and ask what the Government can do to improve the atmosphere and environment in which jobs can be created and companies thrive. That is why the specific remit of the Minister of State with responsibility for small businesses and the jobs action programme of 2012 is to focus on those small businesses, to enable those that are in business to continue and thrive and to enable new businesses to be set up and get on with whatever they are involved in. That covers a range of issues, including dealing with PRSI, taking people off the unemployment lists and the live register, providing access to credit and so on. It is not a simple matter of waving a wand and putting everything in place. Structures must be put in place and tenders and models arrived at for the implementation of those schemes.

Whether someone is unemployed in Caherciveen, Carlingford, Carnsore or wherever, the focus and priority of the Government is the creation of jobs and job opportunities. That is why we make no secret of the fact that the priority and focus of Government is on getting Ireland back working.

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