Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This issue must have the relentless focus of the Government for 2014. We will have the local and European elections in 2014, but there is no referendum planned for 2014. I would like to see every Department and agency focus on employment opportunities for 2014. For many years, the people who occupied these benches operated in a kind of individual tunnel and there was no collective focus of the Government on dealing with unemployment. This is an issue on which the House should show encouragement.

I, for one, am prepared to listen to constructive suggestions from people on employment. I do not intend to denigrate or ridicule Deputy Boyd Barrett in any way. However, the Deputy constantly repeats the same argument.

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