Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have made significant gains over the past two years and employment has now grown on an annual basis for six quarters in succession. By comparison, when this Government came into office the economy was losing an average of 1,600 jobs per week. Furthermore, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has fallen from 15.1% at the start of 2012 to 12% in 2014.

The quarterly national household survey headline figures show an annual increase of 42,700 people in employment in the 12 months ending in the first quarter of 2014. On a seasonally adjusted basis, employment in the first quarter of 2014 increased by 1,700 on the previous quarter. This represents a year-on-year increase of 2.3% in the number of people in employment and the highest percentage increase in employment in quarter one since 2007.

Many indicators give grounds for confidence that job growth can be sustained. Nevertheless, the first quarter figures are a reminder that we need to work relentlessly to improve our competitiveness, increase productivity and develop sectoral opportunities where Ireland has particular strengths. We are doing this through the Action Plan for Jobs process, which this year places a particular focus on supporting entrepreneurship, manufacturing and strengthening our platform overseas for winning new business.

The 2014 Action Plan for Jobs includes targets for the IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the new local enterprise offices to support a total of 30,500 direct new jobs during 2014. At this point in the year the indications are that these targets are on track. The work of the enterprise agencies will be supplemented by our efforts to support the recovery of the domestic economy in areas such as construction, retail and tourism. The action plan has also placed a strong emphasis on yielding job gains through new disruptive reforms introduced in 2014 and, as I have already mentioned, entrepreneurship, winning abroad and a national step-change in manufacturing.

The Government recently published a new strategy for the construction sector and we are reviewing our national tourism policy following a public consultation process. The new retail consultation forum has been established and will hold its inaugural meeting next week.

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