Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

156. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plan to achieve full employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54982/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government this week published its Medium-Term Economic Strategy to 2020. The Strategy provides an overall framework for social and economic policies that are being developed and implemented across Government to build on the progress we have made to date and set Ireland on the path to sustainable recovery.

The Government’s goal, as set out in the Medium-Term Economic Strategy, is to achieve full employment in the economy by 2020. While we have begun to see encouraging signs of employment growth in the last twelve months, replacing all of the 330,000 jobs which were lost to the economy between 2008 and 2012 will require determined implementation of appropriate policies across Government.

The Action Plan for Jobs will continue to be the key vehicle for the identification and delivery of specific policy measures that will support job creation by Government. I am currently preparing the 2014 Action Plan for Jobs on behalf of the Government, which will be published in the New Year.

The Action Plan will include a series of clear, tangible measures to continue the Government’s focus on building a strong enterprise base that is built on entrepreneurship, innovation and exports. It will also focus on supporting key sectors with potential for employment growth.