John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

Will the Leader invite to the House the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to debate the current economic climate? There is no doubt there is a perception that the US economy has gone into recession. I commend the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the other Ministers for their correct assessment that we should cut our cloth to measure and focus on employment. In light of our history and knowledge of what employment does, we should realise it is sometimes as expensive to keep people out of work as it is to keep them in work, bearing in mind the high levels of social, health and other problems that ensue in times of unemployment. The current trend of ensuring the continuation of a high level of employment is to be welcomed in changing times — I would not say "difficult times".