Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Conway-Walsh raised the cost of partition and of not being a united country. I congratulate her on raising the matter. I am sure she will join me, along with Senator Noone and Senator Colm Burke, in welcoming the unemployment figures. The national survey from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, shows that employment is continuing to increase in this country. I am sure Sinn Féin Members will welcome the fact that there are more people at work. More than 2 million people are in work in Ireland, with 56,500 more people at work in the past year, which is a 2.8% increase. It is ahead of the target in the Action Plan for Jobs for 2016. A total of 72% of the jobs being created at present are located outside Dublin. For 16 quarters in a row there has been an increase in the number of people at work. All Members will agree that this is a good news story for the country.