asked the Minister for Economic Planning and Development if he will make a statement on the recent NESC employment projections which state that full employment by 1986 is not an attainable objective.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment Projections.
3.
The report of the National Economic and Social Council Population and Employment Projections 1986: A Reassessment, states that full employment is not an unattainable objective. The Deputy therefore is misquoting. The council believe that, while the objective may be difficult to reach by 1986, significant progress towards it can be made by that date, if the community wills its achievement and accepts the required policies.
The Government recognise fully that, on the basis of economic performance in recent years and having regard to the expected increase in the labour force in the years ahead, satisfactory progress towards the objective will demand changes in existing policies. It is the Government's view that the required policy changes can best be identified and implemented through a more concerted and planned approach to the development of the economy generally. As emphasised by the council, the success of efforts to increase employment depends on the appropriate support from all sections of the community, and it is the intention of the Government to pursue the policies and provide the leadership needed to generate that support.
The question is wrongly phrased. What I meant there was an attainable objective.
Yes.
At what figure of unemployment would the Minister state there is full employment?
Would the Deputy be willing to wait until I reply to a later question in which I deal with that?
Certainly.