Seanad debates
Thursday, 19 April 2012
Sale of State Assets: Statements, Questions and Answers
There are 300,000 people unemployed in the country, not 440,000. The live register states 440,000 are not working, which is correct. At the peak of the boom, there were 140,000 unemployed. There are 300,000 people unemployed who were not working four years ago and every single one of them wants to work. Of the 300,000, it is estimated that 100,000 are from the construction sector. Although we can install water meters – this is an advancement in that people will be employed – we need to get the construction sector moving. I am not talking about state aid or anything of that nature but proposing that if NAMA put a certain number of its best units on the market, we would find a base. When we find a base, the market will flow and people will start to reinvest. It is crucial that we address this. While it is not within the bailiwick of the Minister, he should note the assets are within a State company.
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