Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Sinn Féin motion sets out the reality of the unemployment crisis in this State today. If it did nothing else, this motion would be valid because our unemployed citizens, of whom there are more than 430,000, are fast becoming the nameless, faceless people of our society. Unemployment is treated by many in the media and by the conservative political parties almost like the weather - something we can do nothing directly about. The only difference is that the weather is more talked about than unemployment.

The neoliberal economic outlook sees employment as a by-product of the main economic activity, which is to make as much money as cheaply as possible in the shortest possible time and, invariably, by smallest possible number of people. Our view is fundamentally different. We ask what is the purpose of economic activity, and we answer that it is for the greater good of all the citizens. It includes the social economy, the voluntary and community sector, State-provided public services and enterprises, and businesses from the craft workshop employing two people to the multinational plant employing 2,000.

The State has a role in all of these sectors, either directly or indirectly. Yet the Government speakers responding spoke as if this was not the case, and as if Sinn Féin had not presented alternative measures to address the unemployment crisis. This is most certainly not the case. Read the motion. Read our jobs plan. Look at the proposals made by the progressive voices who offer an alternative to the futile and sterile austerity strategy that is condemning a whole generation to unemployment and emigration.

Our motion identifies essential measures to reverse the unemployment crisis, including calls on the Government to establish a jobs stimulus fund of €13 billion, target investment towards projects that will create employment, develop infrastructure and enhance our competitiveness, abolish upward-only rent review clauses, address excessive utility, legal and insurance costs, introduce progressive commercial rates and combat cartels, develop schemes that will guarantee young people jobs, training or continued education, develop regional targets and budgets to promote job creation and tackle economic inequalities, and work with the Northern Executive to promote an all-island approach to skills, job creation and economic growth.

In responding to the motion, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, claimed the IDA had had its best years in a decade in the past two years. I have news for the Minister, news I have already brought to his attention. It is that the IDA was never seen much about the place in my home county of Monaghan during the so-called Celtic tiger or for decades before it, never mind during the current recession and jobs famine. The record shows that in 2012 the almighty IDA created a grand total of three jobs in County Monaghan and it lost ten, a net loss of seven. In the same year, Enterprise Ireland helped create 294 jobs and lost 142, a net gain of 152. That is based on the entrepreneurial spirit of the people of my home county.

Of course, these are pathetic figures by any measurement. It is, sadly, what we have come to expect in the Border counties, but especially in County Monaghan. Small as the figures are, I believe it is very instructive that there is such a contrast between the IDA and Enterprise Ireland figures, with no other county showing a greater disparity. Our county has long been characterised by the industriousness and enterprising spirit of its people, as reflected in the many small and medium-sized enterprises. Many of these have gone under during the recession, with lights in businesses going out one by one in the streets of towns and villages across the country and region. However, many survive, and they need support and encouragement. They have got precious little of it from this Government or previous Governments.

I want to conclude with this comment. I noted the remarks of the Minister of State, Deputy Perry. In his patronising and highly inaccurate speech, he spoke of Sinn Féin "coming down here". Well, I never. He trotted out the now usual coalition guff we have had to listen to here again this evening about our stewardship in the Executive in the North. Let me tell the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, and anybody else on the Government benches that Sinn Féin comes to this Chamber from the north, south, east and west of this country, and they can be damn sure we are here to stay.

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