Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In recent months, I have been working with my colleagues in government on compiling the 2013 action plan for jobs. The plan has been approved by the Government and will be launched in the coming days. I should point out that the current plan was introduced against a background of an average of 90,000 jobs being lost in the economy per year.

The challenge is to facilitate a transition from an economy built on unsustainable pillars of property and debt to one built on enterprise, innovation and exports. It has always been made clear that this will not mean a fixed number of new jobs in each of the years of the plan. Too many elements of the economy need to be fixed in this early period to undo the damage caused.

Some measures in the action plan for jobs will include specific job creation targets whereas others will contribute to improving the operating environment, which will support the creation of jobs by the enterprise sector. The objective of the action plan for jobs process is to create a supportive environment for businesses so that they can retain existing jobs and create new ones. We are transforming our economy step by step by taking measures across all Departments and many State agencies to remove administrative burdens on businesses, improve their access to finance, further improve our export performance and support the development of key growth sectors.

One of the significant benefits of the approach taken in the plan is that it has required agencies and Departments across government to put forward measures that are making it easier for enterprises to develop opportunities and create employment. However, most of these actions are not of a character where Departments would have a specific job target.

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