I presume that the Deputy is referring to my intervention in the debate in this House on a motion for a jobs forum on 26 February 1992. On that occasion I spoke of the challenge of providing jobs for the unprecedented number of people who are seeking work in this country. It is an enormous challenge. I commented that the enormity of the problem means that there are no instant or short term solutions. It is important that we are not beguiled by suggestions that there are. However, it would be wrong, to attribute to me the view that long term unemployment is a "permanent feature of the Irish economy."
That policy must have regard to the demographic pressures over the remainder of this decade when some 60,000 people per annum, representing about 25,000 net extra people each year, will be seeking to enter the labour force here. Various groups, such as the ESRI and the Industrial Policy Review Group — also called the Culliton group — have noted this and also the implication that our serious unemployment problems are likely to be a feature of life in Ireland for the foreseeable future.
It is in this light that I advocated that a new forum on unemployment should address the needs of the unemployed, particularly those of the long term unemployed. I recommended a number of issues that such a forum could, I feel, usefully address. I have also indicated my belief in the importance of ensuring that the unemployed themselves have the opportunity to present their views and proposals through unemployment action groups and similar initiatives.
Determined action is needed to address their understandable frustration and sense of alienation and to accord them a more meaningful role in our society than that which they have now.