Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Deputy's comments on what the Government is doing to combat the scourge of youth unemployment. It is a problem and no Government will come up with a remedy overnight. However, we have introduced a number of stimulus packages in our budgets and I understand the Minister for Finance will include a stimulus package in budget 2014 to address the scourge of emigration and youth unemployment. We are winning the battle in this regard as we have concentrated on it. The Taoiseach will next year concentrate on jobs and job creation. We have to focus on this to prevent the high rate of emigration, particularly among young people.

The Deputy is correct that a significant number of young emigrants are leaving full-time jobs. Perhaps this is because of a desire for a better lifestyle or better weather but there is a range of reasons they are doing so. For example, two of my constituents emigrated to Australia in the past month. They both left full-time jobs in a pharmaceutical company and transferred to a sister company in Australia.

The CSO is always looking for ways to improve the way it gathers information. I represented the Government in Australia on St. Patrick's Day this year. It is a worthwhile exercise for all Ministers to go abroad and network with their counterparts in different parliaments and so on. I launched an Irish networking website in Perth. People can log in to find out about what is happening at home, job opportunities, stimulus packages and so on and also they are informed about what they need to do when they travel to Australia and about various helplines. This is an important site to make sure we look after our young people when they emigrate and to fill them in on what is happening back home as well. This will give them an opportunity to apply for jobs.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I compliment the CSO on the great work it does. As Minister for State with responsibility for the agency, I always encourage Ministers to use CSO data, which is readily available, as they develop Government policy.

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