Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I said to Deputies Adams and Boyd Barrett, I do not believe that now is the time for a Border poll rather it is a time for relentless pursuit of the creation of an environment wherein jobs and investment can take place. In response to Deputy Boyd Barrett's question, this cannot be done unless a situation is created wherein there is confidence in our economy, including from abroad.

Two years ago, our reputation was in shreds, we had a dysfunctional banking system and a haemorrhaging out of the banks, a haemorrhaging of jobs, an incapacity to borrow money on the open market and 250,000 jobs were lost in the private sector. To rectify this, we had to take many difficult decisions resulting in billions being taken out of our economy and challenges for people. This is beginning to pay dividends in the sense of the investment confidence to which I referred becoming evident at long last. I hope that our negotiations on the two fronts at European level will pay dividends to enhance this and make our debt position more sustainable.

The vast majority of unemployed people to whom I have spoken want to be at work or to have an opportunity to go to work. This is the reason we are shifting the emphasis from what previously applied in the former Department of Social Welfare whereby people where statistics and received taxpayers' money to tide them over to Intreo, which involves community affairs, the Department of Social Protection and Health Service Executive working together interviewing people about their experiences and competencies, the opportunities which exist to allow them do what they wish to do and encouraging and motivating them to contribute to their country and local economy. It is a challenge for Government to be imaginative and creative in these opportunities. People involved in private enterprise are bursting at the seams in terms of their desire for us to get out of recession because they see so many opportunities opening up. I am heartened by the number of small businesses around the country, employing three, five, seven, ten or 20 people, who are thriving through use of the Internet, brand image and quality products.

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