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

We have taken 100,000 people out of an extremely precarious situation where they are at high risk of poverty and have brought them into employment. That is the journey.

Deputy Gerry Adams who is no longer present in the Chamber asked about the social consequences of the policies we were pursuing. The social consequences are quite clear - they are removing people from the risk of being in poverty. They are rebuilding families, putting lives back on track, putting money back into communities and resources back into the Exchequer such that this year, long before expected, we are able to put money back into services.

I listened as crocodile tears were shed by Sinn Féin Deputies for people who had been dislodged from work. Every time we brought forward a scheme designed to provide a pathway back to work, whether it be JobBridge, Momentum, Springboard, new apprenticeships or JobsPlus, Sinn Féin was the first party to oppose it. It does not support these opportunities that are being provided for people who are out of work.

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