asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he is aware that there were 21,000 fewer employed in Irish industry in September 1983 than there were in September 1973 and that this serious downward trend is continuing; and the action he and the Government are taking to correct it.

I am aware of the decline in manufacturing employment in the period 1973 to 1983, as shown by the relevant CSO statistics.

The Deputy will be aware that the Government propose to publish a White Paper on Industrial Policy within the next month. This White Paper will set out a policy framework designed to restore the competitiveness of Irish industry and increase manufacturing employment.

It is expected that between 11,000 and 12,000 new first-time jobs will be created by the IDA in 1984.

Would the Minister agree that the serious downward trend in manufacturing employment is continuing? While I welcome the Minister's commitment to publish the White Paper within a month — we have been waiting 18 months for it — does he agree that the climate is unfavourable for investment? He said that the IDA would create 11,000 new manufacturing jobs but can he give a figure on what job losses are likely to be?

These figures are net figures. They refer to the number employed in manufacturing. They take into account job losses and job gains. The decline which commenced around 1979 has continued but recently there has been a marked deceleration in the rate of decline in manufacturing jobs. I am on record as indicating I am hopeful that towards the end of the year we will begin to see, if the present favourable trends continue, job numbers in manufacturing begin to rise again. Although we have had a decline in manufacturing employment of 4 per cent since 1973 the decline in other countries has been much greater. It was 23 per cent in Denmark; 14.5 per cent in France; 22 per cent in the Netherlands; 26 per cent in the UK and 13.6 per cent in Germany.

Does the Minister agree that the countries he has mentioned do not have the problems we have?

That is true.

What is his forecast of job losses in 1984? The Minister was able to give me a projection for job creation.

I do not have a detailed breakdown to hand.

That is a separate question.

Job losses will be in excess of the number of new jobs created over the year by a significant margin. I expect that by the end of this year there will be fewer people in manufacturing than at the end of last year. In the last few months of the year we might see the trend move a little but the net figure at the end of the year will be below what it was at the end of last year.

14.