asked the Minister for Finance whether in view of the fact that there has been a net reduction of seven per cent. in numbers of persons at work between 1926 and 1958, together with a persistent seven to ten per cent. unemployment rate and a total of approximately eight to nine hundred thousand emigrants under the system of primarily private enterprise economics obtaining under successive Governments, he is now prepared to use State capital for productive investment in those undertakings which are at present so inadequately and inefficiently developed under the free enterprise system.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - State Capital for Productive Investment.
28.
The policy with regard to the use of State capital for productive investment is fully dealt with in the White Paper entitled "Programme for Economic Expansion."
Will the Parliamentary Secretary agree that the only significant advance made by the State during the last 35 years has been made where the State provided the capital and directly or indirectly maintained control of the undertaking? In the light of that significant failure of private enterprise, would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that the Government should put much more reliance on State investment and control in the future?
That matter does not arise.
And the boys and girls go up the gangway while 74,000 people stand at our street corners.
The Deputy should allow the Parliamentary Secretary to answer the next question.