asked the Taoiseach if unemployment was discussed at the recent meeting of the European Council; and if any measures were agreed to counteract the problem.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Problem.
1.
I would refer the Deputy to my statement to the House on 11 April which dealt with the discussions at the European Council meeting, and also to Conclusions of the Presidency, in respect of that meeting, copies of which I have had laid before the House.
In view of the fact that we are now over half way from July 1977 to December of this year and unemployment was only reduced by 5,000 or one-fifth of the Government plan, have the Government any new policies in mind to create jobs?
The Deputy's question related specifically to whether or not unemployment was discussed at the recent European Council meeting. If the Deputy would like to ask a specific question I will be glad to answer it at a later date.
Will the Taoiseach agree that the policies pursued by the Government and by the EEC——
That is a separate question and the Deputy is aware that this matter deals specifically with the European Council.
I have not finished yet.
The Deputy has already gone wrong.
(Interruptions.)
It is the Government's policies that have gone wrong. Will the Taoiseach agree that the policies pursued by the Government and the apparent lack of policies by the EEC have failed and that an urgent reappraisal of policies is now due?
The Deputy's question related to the European Council's discussion on unemployment. That question was discussed at considerable length and it was recognised that a growth of 2 per cent achieved over the last period was totally insufficient to maintain employment and that it might have the effect of decreasing employment. The European Council decided to achieve over a period of 15 months a growth rate of 4½ per cent which would, it is hoped, maintain employment. These are the answers to the questions which the Deputy asked.
Has the Taoiseach seen reports in the Press on the meeting of Ministers of Finance stating that there was apparent reluctance on the part of the German Minister to accept the logical argument carried through the policies agreed by the European Council? I regret that our Minister for Finance was unable to attend the meeting but I am very happy to see him here after his unfortunate accident. I am happy for him and his wife that the results were minimal. Would the Taoiseach say whether he has had a report from whatever Minister represented us there and whether there is any truth in the Press reports?
Surely that is a separate question relating to a different meeting and to a different Minister.
It is precisely on the point as to whether the 4½ per cent target to which the Taoiseach has just referred is likely to be attained if one Government were to be already moving away from their commitment in that respect.
I indicated to the Deputy last week in reply to statements made by him and by the Leader of the Labour Party that even on the figure of 4½ per cent and its attainability there was some disagreement. I will not indicate which representatives of the European Council expressed the possibility that the 4½ per cent growth rate might not be achieved in 15 months but I indicated clearly the manner in which the objective of reaching 4½ per cent by mid-1979 might be reached.
Could the Taoiseach say in what way it will affect this Government's employment target if there is disagreement and a failure by the EEC to have a united approach?
Our Government will naturally have to rely on their own resources and policies to a considerable extent to achieve the growth targets we have set for ourselves but we cannot ignore the rate of growth in other countries, especially countries within the EEC.
The Taoiseach is indicating that it would not affect the Government's employment targets?
I did not say that.
Did the Taoiseach say it would?
I did not say it would. I gave the Deputy a fairly comprehensive answer to a supplementary question.
I am not quite clear what the Taoiseach is saying. Is the Taoiseach saying that it would or would not affect the employment situation?
I said that our growth rate will be dependent on our initiative and on our polices and programmes but that we cannot regard ourselves as immune to world conditions in these areas, particularly conditions obtaining within the EEC.
But the Taoiseach is still confident that the Government can realise their targets.
We will certainly strive as hard as we can.
Would the Taoiseach agree that when he was in opposition he discounted outside factors? Will the Taoiseach tell the House whether, now that we are half way towards 1979, he is worried that only one-fifth of the employment target has been reached?
The Deputy is trying to put across something I did not say. I said that the outside influences, especially in relation to inflation, affect us as to some 50 per cent of our capacity.
That is a new admission.
If the Deputy can produce a statement from me either in the House or outside the House in contradiction to what I have just said, I will be glad to withdraw the remark. I do not believe I will have to, because I have never said anything other than what I have indicated.
(Interruptions.)