Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I have raised the Taoiseach's role in tackling the jobs crisis, as outlined in his Department's strategy statement. I asked him to make a statement on the matter as well as outlining the policy areas for which his Department is responsible, and whether his Department is adequately staffed. The Taoiseach's colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, loves to choose his words carefully. Whether he is trying to rock the foundations of the State or just getting a laugh, he does not speak without thinking things through. It was therefore very revealing that he recently told a group of energy executives that the Government does not have a plan for the economy. This was reported in the Sunday Independent. He said the Government was essentially reacting on a day-by-day basis. Cutting through the spin, it seems there is a lot of hype about things but very little is actually happening.

The Department of the Taoiseach basically has the same staff as it had 18 months ago, but his office's role in formulating economic policy has been significantly reduced. His office hosts a lot of meetings, but he has removed most of the staff whose responsibility was to co-ordinate and deliver a jobs strategy. Would the Taoiseach agree that is one of the reasons the jobs strategy, which was launched last year, comprises over 90% of re-published existing strategies? There is nothing new or very fresh in that jobs strategy.

Given the admission by the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, that the Government does not have a strategic plan for the economy, should the Taoiseach not take genuine control of the situation and direct proper strategic economic planning within Government? His Ministers are clearly of the view that no such strategic plan exists.

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