David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and the opportunity to debate the Action Plan on Jobs. Many Senators have been calling for a debate on jobs and unemployment and I am grateful to the Minister for coming before the House for this discussion.

There is no doubt that the live register figures have been encouraging in recent months. The jobs that have been gained are welcome because every job created is good news for the person who gets it, his or her family and the wider economy. We should, therefore, celebrate every job created and I certainly do so. Much of the increase in employment can be attributed not to Government policy but the resilience of local businesses and the entrepreneurs who are taking risks. The Minister will accept that businesses have found the past six years very difficult but they have endured. Many employers are now taking on new staff and expanding their businesses in response to new opportunities.

The employment figures have shown encouraging signs in the past 12 months, especially the past six months. As the Minister has acknowledged, however, we continue to face challenges. The scale of the challenge facing the State is significant and much work remains to be done. There is also evidence that jobs growth is polarised in a number of ways. For example, certain sectors are experiencing strong growth, while in other sectors growth has been limited. Moreover, part-time employment has increased significantly and most new jobs are low paid.