asked the Minister for Finance if it is the intention of the Government to introduce a policy of planned economic capital expenditure in order to provide, within a rreasonable period, for a policy of full employment, and, if so, within what period the intends full employment to be achieved.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Full Employment Policy.
I would refer the Deputy to my Budget speech (Dáil Debates, Volume 161, column 957) for a statements of the economic objectives of the Government and the methods by which it is hoped to attain them. The Government's aim is to use every appropriate means to promote economic expansion and by developing the nation's resources to the utmost to provide productive and permanent employment for an increasing number of our people. The realisation of this aim does not depend on Government action alone. It requires the active help and co-operation of everyone in the community, both in accepting the standards commensurate with current production and in securing that these standards are raised by greater enterprise andeffcency in production, particularly for export. So far as the planning of public capital expenditure is concerned, I indicated that the programme will be reshaped and redireted, after considering the best object tive advice available, so as to make a better contribution towards the objective of an expanding economy.
May I take it that the magnificent and imaginative pre-election full employment plan of the Tánaiste was merely an elaborate hoax, fraud and window-dressing?
There is nothing in the reply whichI have given which could possibly support that contention.
The Minister is quick off the mark to-day.