andMr. McQuillan asked the Taoiseach, in view of the disclosures that the most optimistic proposals for industries likely to be started will provide no more than a maximum total employment of 3,700 during 1963, what action the Government propose to take to deal with the 60,000 unemployed, in addition to those leaving school and requiring work, those likely to leave agriculture and industry during 1963, and those likely to be made redundant by proposed changes in industry in preparation for free trade conditions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Situation.
1.
As the first part of the Question is based on a misunderstanding of the position by the Deputies, the second part does not arise.
The figure of 3,700 which the Deputies quote represents—as was made clear by the Minister for Industry and Commerce in his reply to a Question in this House on the 21st instant—the estimated potential employment in certain new industries which are expected to go into production this year. It does not represent the total anticipated increase in industrial employment in all industries, old and new, as the Deputies seem to imply.
May I ask the Taoiseach what is the anticipated figure to which he refers as being the likely increase expected this year from industries old and new?
I would not be prepared to make an estimate at this point.
Is it not a fact that within the past week a Parliamentary Secretary has said that 10,000 new jobs were created by the Government in the past 12 months? Would the Taoiseach now state whether that figure is accurate or otherwise?
The Deputy had better give notice of that Question.
Surely the Taoiseach should be in a position to state if this figure is not correct. It was given here in reply to a Question. Has the Taoiseach not gone to any trouble in this matter of such great importance to find out the estimated figure of new jobs?
I have said that I am not prepared to make an estimate at this stage.
Because the Taoiseach cannot.
I have said I am not prepared to try.
If a Minister can make an estimate of the likely number of jobs in new industries, surely the Taoiseach should be able to make an estimate in respect of new and old industries? The position is that the Government have no answer.
The Taoiseach is throwing up the sponge.