Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It said that the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, wanted to have even more savage cuts. He said: "We were ... irked that she [Deputy Burton] put herself out as the protector of the oppressed when she had put forward this package." She actually had to be talked out of a couple of cuts, including to the bereavement grant and some other aspects of social welfare. It is difficult enough to live in this country under this Government, but if the Minister for Social Protection had her way, it would be equally difficult to die under it.

That is where we stand. I am looking forward to see how that contest between the various Labour Party members and their consciences plays out next week when we have to face up to it and vote on these social protection measures. I can assure the House that, as my party's spokesman on social protection, I will give them every opportunity to vote against any of those measures they wish.

The greatest social and economic problem facing this country, and from which many other problems stem, is the scandal of unemployment. In his budget speech yesterday, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, told us that "Unemployment fell by 3,600 on an annual basis in the third quarter of this year". In the name of God, what planet is this man living on?

Last week in Limerick city, a small businessman advertised for two full-time jobs and one part-time job. They were not highly paid jobs and were pretty difficult. He got 700 replies, 80% of which were from people who were massively overqualified for the work in question. There are 50 applicants for every job vacancy. That is the reality of unemployment in every quarter, not just the third.

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