Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is good to see the Minister back in the House again. I thank Senators Quinn and Norris for moving and seconding the amendment. I listened carefully to the Minister's comments yesterday. Youth unemployment and emigration is such a serious issue that we cannot postpone addressing it. The Government parties have an opportunity to say they are serious about this, they will do something about it and they are committed to laying a report before the Oireachtas. I accept, based on what the Minister said yesterday, that early 2014 will be adequate. I understand she must finalise the youth guarantee plan but the guarantee in and of itself will not be enough. When Professor Pissarides appeared before the House, he explicitly said we should not put all our eggs in the one basket.

The youth guarantee scheme is only offering at best a number of months of an opportunity but that, in and off itself, will not do it.

On the figures, and I want to return to what Senator Bacik said, my figures indicate that 31,000 young people will be affected by the cuts in social welfare.