Emer Higgins, TD

New figures showing unemployment at its lowest level since 2008 have been welcomed by Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar who has pledged to drive further progress in this area in the year ahead.

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell O’Connor today (Tuesday) welcomed the latest Quarterly National Household Survey figures from the Central Statistics Office, showing that employment has continued to increase and unemployment is now at 6.8%.

Addressing a Joint Oireachtas Committee meeting with European Commission First Vice President, Frans Timmermans, Fine Gael spokesman on EU Affairs, Senator Neale Richmond, has challenged the EU and civic society to take the fight to Eurosceptics.

Today’s (21st February) data published by the CSO in the Quarterly National Household Survey show that employment has increased at an annual rate of 65,000 in the final quarter of last year. Reacting to these positive employment figures, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan T.D. stated:

Minister of State Joe McHugh has announced a €3.8M water scheme in Gortahork which will deliver quality supplies to 5,000 people by the end of the year. The Donegal TD cut the sod today on the new water treatment plant at Ardsbeg. It is part of €6.3M in infrastructure contracts being signed off by Minister McHugh today with the formal signing for the Cockhill Bridge in Buncrana later today.

I am very pleased to be with you all today at this, the second Plenary meeting of the All Island Civic Dialogue on Brexit. When we started this process last November, I spoke of the importance of having the widest possible conversation on the implications of Brexit for this island, North and South.

Attending the announcement of a 600 job expansion by Microsoft in Leopardstown this morning (Friday), locally based Fine Gael Senator, Neale Richmond had said the expansion is a big win.

“Extra capital funding nationally totaling €2.6 billion has been put forward for projects throughout the country and my immediate response was to lobby Minister Harris for funding for our community hospitals,” McHugh said. “I have asked for funding for the community hospitals to upgrade them and bring them up to the required standard which will enhance them well into the future.

As we gather here today, our country is at a crossroads. As we approach the second century of our State, we are entering a new era of our history. We are being buffeted by strong external forces – of politics, of economics and of technology.