asked the Taoiseach if he will state for the years ended 31st March, 1956, and 31st March, 1967, the total number of people at work in Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Persons at Work.
3.
Estimates of the total number of persons at work in the State are made only in respect of the month of April each year. The estimated total number at work in April, 1956, was 1,125,000 persons, while the corresponding figure for April, 1967, was 1,063,000 persons.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary give us any information as to why there has been a reduction of almost 100,000 people at work in Ireland in the past ten years, despite the fact your Government promised 100,000 new jobs? You are only 200,000 out on your estimate.
Is this an Ard-Fheis speech?
No, it is cold fact.
The number at work in agriculture, forestry and fishing fell by 108,000 while the number at work in non-agricultural economic activities increased by 46,000. When the Fine Gael policy to get the small farmers off the land comes to fruition, there will be nobody working in the country, according to you.
One hundred thousand fewer.
Nobody could do worse than that except Cromwell.