Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The CSO is an independent body that compiles and publishes the numbers. They are the numbers we use. If I am asked how many jobs have been created in the economy in the past 12 months, I must go on the numbers of the CSO. They are the numbers I quoted and it is perfectly reasonable for me to do so. The CSO is entirely independent of my Department and the Government.

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