Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Finance when the legislation for the jobs initiative will be presented to Dáil Éireann; if the jobs initiative will be presented to Dáil Éireann before or after the Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting on the 15 and 16 May 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9642/11]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 40: To ask the Minister for Finance the way he will stimulate the economy when the jobs initiative will be fiscally neutral; if he has conducted an analysis of the effects of the measures to be introduced as part of the jobs initiative; if he has conducted an analysis of the effects of the counter-balancing measures to be introduced to compensate for the measures under the jobs initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9643/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 40 together.

The Government is strongly committed to implementing a jobs and growth strategy. We intend announcing a Jobs Initiative as committed to in the Programme for Government on the 10th of May. I would anticipate that any necessary legislation to give effect to the measures outlined in the Jobs Initiative, will be published shortly thereafter.

The Programme for Government sets out in broad terms the measures that will be implemented as part of this Initiative. The measures are designed to lift public morale and confidence in the economy, to provide jobs, to provide suitable job placement for unemployed persons and to encourage spending by consumers.

In terms of the specific detail, officials from my own and Minister Howlin's Department are working closely with other Departments in preparing the proposals and assessing the quantitative and qualitative impacts. As has been previously signalled any costs arising in connection with the Jobs Initiative will have to be counter-balanced by the implementation of offsetting measures. This will ensure that we will continue to underpin our fiscal sustainability while also bringing forward policies to assist economic growth.

Officials are continuing to assess the compensatory measures to be introduced to fund the Jobs Initiative. In order to ensure the Jobs Initiative is successful, we want to ensure the measures, while fiscally neutral overall, have the least negative economic impact possible. All of the measures we will introduce will be costed as accurately as possible to ensure that the requirement for budgetary neutrality is respected and that is why we are closely examining a range of options.

In terms of the effect of the measures being introduced as part of the Initiative, getting people back to work is the number one priority of this Government.