asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce which, if any, of the detailed recommendations for full employment made by the Provisional United Trade Union Organisation he has accepted to date, and when he hopes to have these remedial measures introduced with a view to providing for full employment in the foreseeable future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Recommendations for Full Employment.
The statement published by the Provisional United Trade Union Organisation indicated that their proposals were intended primarily as a basis for discussion. The proposals were discussed at a meeting which I had recently with the representatives of the organisation.
With regard to the measures taken to date by the Government to improve the employment position, I refer the Deputy to a reply given on behalf of the Taoiseach to a Dáil Question on Wednesday last.
The Government accepts the conclusions of the Provisional United Trade Union Organisation that the increase in employment must, in the main, be provided by an expansion of industrial activities which in turn depends largely on production for export, and the policy of the Government is directed to bringing about this result.
Does the Minister suggest that the proposals to which he refers for the creation of full employment in the country vary in any fundamental way from the proposals which it has been attempted to put into operation in the course of the past 30 years and which have provided a mere 800 new jobs a year at the moment for the 80,000 unemployed people who require them? There is no substantial difference between the dependence on the expansion of private enterprise in the course of the past 30 years and the recent proposals for the future.