James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is important. We may forget that the level of unemployment was at more than 15%. It is down to 6.4%. More than 2 million people are back at work, but we have to fight for every job and ensure that every business gets every opportunity to create that extra job.We want SMEs to be successful. One extra job in every SME means 80,000 more jobs overall. Extra jobs in existing FDI companies are also very important and we should not create unnecessary problems for them. We all need to be vigilant and we are all open to people approaching us if they come with sensible solutions to what look like problems we can all grasp and deal with.

The Minister has been very quick to respond. She said it was a short Bill but I am reminded as I often am by a certain party who is near and dear to me that good goods come in small parcels. The Bill is indeed that. It is short and to the point but it is also very effective and necessary. I welcome it and commend the Minister on it. I thank all of my colleagues in the Seanad for supporting it and also the jobs committee which was unanimous on the issue. I thank the Department also for its sterling work in getting the Bill together so quickly.