Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The focus of the previous Government and this one is to help workers and employers. We now have over 2 million people at work. We have evolved from having a national action plan for jobs to having eight regional action plans for jobs. They deal with specific areas such as those raised by the Deputy in terms of infrastructure, quality of water, communications, roads, power and so on. Employment is increasing.

We have set up the Low Pay Commission to take a structured and objective look at the minimum wage. The previous Government increased the minimum wage on two occasions and significant numbers of people have been taken out of the tax bracket altogether. The opportunity has been taken to focus on helping employers as well. We adjusted employers' PRSI in granting an increase in the minimum wage.

These are matters for the budget. They will all be reflected upon in the next week to ten days. Issues affecting employers, to make it more attractive and easier to employ people, and for workers will be announced on budget day.

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