Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would listen to the advice of any world-renowned expert or economist. I read a lot, but much of the advice is contradictory. One must adhere to one's best judgment. It is true that one can argue about the statistical composition of the live register, as the Deputy suggested, but it is not generally known that 90,000 people working part-time, all included, are on the live register. One must make allowances for that also when considering what is going on.

So far, we have made many good judgment calls, in addition to some bad ones. I have explained several times at committee meetings that standing still is not an option. We must take initiatives as a Government to get people back to work. I am fully conscious that one will not get ten out of ten right. Not every initiative works. However, if a high percentage of them work, the system will be working. We are working on creating jobs at present and will continue to do so. We will take advice from the Deputies opposite. I will assess any good idea.

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