Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is important to acknowledge it. The demand side issue to which the Deputy refers is being tackled. The Action Plan for Jobs includes a number of regulatory measures to encourage business. It is acknowledged that demand has bottomed out but the Government is trying to put in place a set of measures to address the 250,000 jobs lost between 2000 case in 2011. These jobs were allied, for the most part, to the construction sector so we must invest in new areas of opportunity in the sector. Those young people, who are working in mines in Australia as we speak because they have a construction related degree, will come back and have other areas of opportunity. The Government is not resting on its laurels.

With regard to the youth guarantee, it is my understanding, and the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, can clarify it further, that this is still part of the negotiations under the Irish Presidency of the European Union.

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