May I ask the Taoiseach two questions?

One at a time.

As you wish. First, may I ask the Taoiseach if he would agree with the statement made by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions prior to the meeting with him that at the current rate of job creation 200,000 people will still be unemployed by 1992? Second, may I ask him if his statement, made just a few moments ago, that private sector companies must be profitable applies also to semi-State companies and if he will state whether the agreements he entered into with the State companies yesterday in regard to job creation by them are subject to the companies in question continuing on that basis to remain profitable?

In regard to the first question, I would be much more optimistic than the statement which the Deputy made implies.

The Congress of Trade Unions made the statement.

I do not think that is exactly the position of the Congress of Trade Unions.

I have the statement here.

The real position is that Congress and Government — and indeed the social partners generally — are working together to try to ensure that the level of economic growth, which we are happily achieving at the moment, is translated as widey as possible into more jobs. Of course, the chief executives of the State companies understand that they must be not just profitable but efficient as well. In fact, we agreed between us that one of the best contributions they can make to the economy is to provide a cheaper and more efficient service for the rest of the economy. That also applies to their own operations——

Then the Taoiseach will sell them off.

As I said, they are conscious of that and are working assiduously to that end. Subject to that we accept that it is possible for them — either through extensions of their core business or through branching out into totally separate enterprises — to provide more employment.

If, as the Taoiseach says, he is more optimistic than the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in regard to the level of unemployment in 1992 in that he believes it will be fewer than the figure of 200,000 suggested by the Congress of Trade Unions, will he please state his view as to the likely level of unemployment in 1992 on the basis of the current rate of job creation? Will he assure the House that his meeting with the semi-State bodies yesterday does not constitute political interference with the commercial management of those bodies in the interests of the taxpayer and those currently employed therein?

Only the Deputy, with the sort of convoluted mind he has, could possibly level that sort of criticism against me. I would have thought he would have been all in favour of a good, helpful, constructive meeting between myself and the chief executives of State bodies with a view to promoting economic development and job creation.

Indeed I am.

A final question, please, from Deputy Rabbitte.

The Taoiseach has a very poor record in this area.

It is a far better record than that of the Deputy and he is very foolish to talk about records.

The Taoiseach can stand over his record, I do not have to change my mind.

He can stay on his horse.

The record in the Taoiseach's case is not one of which he can be proud.

In reply to my first question concerning a major review of industrial policy, does the Taoiseach's answer mean that such a review has already commenced or is about to commence?

It is underway.