Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I do not accept the Deputy's suggestions at all. Obviously the live register speaks for itself. I am extremely unhappy at the numbers of people who are unemployed and why would I not be? The entire effect of Government is to deal with the reality of the position the country faces. This is compounded, as the Deputy is aware, by the impact outside the country in respect of the growth of other European economies. As an exporting nation, it is extremely important for us to be involved in this regard. The Government produced its jobs action programme in February. Its purpose is to create 100,000 new jobs by 2016, which is the end of this period of government. It contains 270 propositions, progress on which will be published on a quarterly basis. The programme is being monitored and overseen by the Departments of the Taoiseach and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

Clearly, Deputy Martin is only too well aware of the difficulties faced by so many businesses, including retail and small businesses, in the context of indigenous confidence in Ireland, as well as access to finance from banks. This is the reason the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is pursuing the partial loan credit guarantee scheme and the introduction of the micro-finance agency, proposals for which I expect to come before the Government next week with the capacity to leverage resources up to €100 million for very small operators in that line. This is the reason the Government did not increase income tax to avoid imposing additional taxes on work and employment. This is the reason the Minister of State with specific responsibility for jobs and small businesses has involved himself deeply with the small business associations and with small operators. His purpose is to bring about a realisation that help and assistance is available and that while this environment is economically difficult, there is a big movement in the labour market. This movement comes off the live register into the world of work. Unfortunately, the level on the register is too high and I regret that.

At the other end of the spectrum, the change from FÁS to SOLAS, linked to the Department of Education and Skills, will become for further education what the opportunities in the HEA's universities are for young people, be they in TUS, JobBridge or Springboard, allowing them to get back into a process where they can retrain, upskill and change direction. As Deputy Martin is well aware, when one speaks to any of the people involved in modern industry one learns that jobs and careers can change every three or four years. It is very important that the system we have is able to deal with those changes. It is true the number of unemployed is too high. It fluctuates every summer, as the Deputy knows, with those who come off the back to education allowances, and so on.

The Government's programme is a capital programme of €17 billion. We inherited an economy that was badly smashed up. There was not, and is not, the money to do all the things we would like to do, or to spend effectively on job creation. The Deputy is well aware that the Government now has to borrow €3 billion every year for Anglo Irish Bank. Think of what we could do with that money if things had been different.

That is the situation we have to deal with and we will continue to deal with it. Jobs, job priorities and the creation of jobs are central to the Government's focus.

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