Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the announcement this morning that the Fiscal Advisory Council has expressed support for the Government position on the relaxation of spending controls. This will come as a welcome boost to the Government's campaign to lobby the European Commission to ensure that the spending limits will be lifted to some extent. I note the Fiscal Advisory Council's position that the current spending limits set by the EU are far more constraining than required due to the averaging out over the ten year period. This is very welcome news. I heard the chair of the Fiscal Advisory Council say this morning that he thinks there should be a positive reception at the EU for the Government's lobbying campaign, and the good news on that coincides with the figures published today on unemployment showing that unemployment has reduced to 10% for the first time since early 2009 and that 90,000 jobs have been created since the Government's action plan for jobs in 2012. Many of us have asked the Leader for debates on job creation and unemployment. We might have a debate on that again in due course because it is a good news story that needs to be highlighted. We need to speak about it again, particularly after the Government's economic statement scheduled for the end of this month.

I ask for a debate also on policing in light of the welcome announcement today by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, that the Minister for Public and Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, has sanctioned the recruitment of 250 new recruits to the Garda. I listened to Senator O'Brien speak on that but it is worth noting the welcome increase in Garda recruits. There are 300 new recruits-----