Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

One of the problems is that the Taoiseach has been in the Dáil for too long. He stands up and grandstands on these issues, but I have a statement that I want to read to him because it is his. It was made following the National Economic and Social Council, NESC's report on jobless households. As the Taoiseach knows, the NESC works under the aegis of his Department. According to its report, 23% of households are jobless, those being, households in which no one is employed or where the total working time by those able to work amounts to less than 20% of their available working time. This level is higher than the EU average. I commend the Taoiseach's statement. I do not know whether he wrote it, but it was issued. He stated:

If this situation is not addressed it will perpetuate the cycle of joblessness, hopelessness and welfare dependency. The sharp increase in jobless households, from an already high level, will have lasting economic and social consequences for generations to come unless we have specific, targeted solutions.

I agree completely. The social policy committee might bend its will to examining what is fair, namely, to tax those who can pay the most and protect those who need the State's protection. I commend this approach to the Taoiseach.

See this speech in context