Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like the majority of Members in this Chamber, I got into politics to make a difference, to improve people's lives. What has happened to Sergeant McCabe and his family is disgraceful. We need to put in place the public inquiry to get to the truth. I and the Government want proper terms of reference.

I also want our people to get jobs and no longer to have to emigrate. I want them to have the opportunity of a good chance to get jobs in their communities and in their country. This morning I attended a major event with the Taoiseach at which 500 jobs were announced by Indeed, the world's largest jobs recruitment website. The energetic, clever young people I met at Indeed this morning give me confidence in this country. These young people are brimming with confidence, building their careers and Ireland's future. I expect 1,140 jobs to be announced by the end of this week and there is a good pipeline for the near future. Out unemployment rate is down to just about 7% and still falling, and more than 2 million people get up every morning, go out to work, pay their taxes raise their families and live their lives. We have targeted another 45,000 jobs for creation in 2017.

However, there are headwinds in the shape of Brexit and geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges. Jobs are the keys that unlock the future of our people. Every job matters. It transforms the life of the person who gets the job as well as the lives of his or her family and community, but we have much more to do. Now is not the time to be complacent and not the time for you-said, he-said, she-said. Now is not the time for political opportunism. Now is the time to ensure justice for Sergeant McCabe. Now is the time to build for the future of our children and grandchildren. Now is not the time for a general election.

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