Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not accept Deputy Martin's view of what the Government is doing in this area. The reason many people are in great difficulties is the extent of jobless households. What is involved here is a reduction of the disregard not in the rate of payment. The plan set out by the Government is to make work pay in all cases. We cannot allow an economy that is beginning to recover to bypass thousands of families who are locked into jobless households. These households, particularly those where there are children, are at particular risk of joblessness being perpetuated from one generation to the next. We have evidence of this for many thousands of people. The work activation programmes introduced by the Government have transformed the way in which the State supports jobseekers to get back to work and makes work pay.

See this speech in context