Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Genuine assistance is offered to them to help them get to the next step or level. This is being done completely differently from how it was done before. We recognise that everybody has a contribution to make and that many of these young people have a talent or flair in a particular area. Some of them have considerable experience, but have lost out. It is a case of providing motivation and incentives to get them back into the system so that employers can see they are bright people and will take them on. The fact that 20,000 people got full-time employment in the past 12 months and that 33,000 jobs were created is positive.

When I look at companies like Glanbia, Kerry Group and others who are exporting increasing amounts and when I see investments such as that in Naas by the Kerrry Group of €100 million, and the new opportunities coming from Bord Bia in cheese making and in providing new flavours to other countries, I see the opportunities are enormous. These opportunities are for young people across the country in many walks of life. We do not have all the answers. I do not ridicule anything the Deputy says, but I would be very happy to hear any constructive suggestions the Deputy has for employment, based on his experience in his constituency. That applies to Deputy Higgins also.

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