The programme for Government makes a whole range of commitments on job creation. In April 2011, the target was 102,000 additional jobs.

Thank you, Deputy, but we will not debate that now. The Deputy can ask about legislation.

I do not want to debate it now, I just want to ask a question about it. Those figures were revised downwards in April this year to 67,000 jobs. Last week, on 13 November, they were further revised down to 18,000 jobs. It is quite obvious that there has been an absolute failure of job creation by the State. I ask the Taoiseach to allow a debate in the Chamber on job creation, as well as employment, unemployment and emigration.

Can we get back to the normal practice whereby requests for debates are done through the Whips and brought up at Whips' meetings? Deputy Healy is still a member of the Technical Group so I suggest that he should have a chat with Deputy Catherine Murphy.

It is a matter for the Taoiseach and his Whips to allow a debate in the Chamber.

No, it is not.

It is a very important issue.

I appreciate that.

There are 450,000 people unemployed and people are emigrating at the rate of hundreds per day.

I appreciate the importance of it.

The Government, which was elected on job creation proposals, has now failed to achieve its target.

Thank you, Deputy. We all know that. I appreciate that but I am only dealing with a procedural issue.

The Central Statistics Office shows that there were 34,000 fewer jobs in the economy this year than when the Government came to power.

Will the Deputy please resume his seat? I am dealing with procedural matters and it is for the Chair to adjudge if they are in or out of order. I am ruling that requests for time for debate be made and agreed, as is normal practice, through the Whips. In this case, Deputy Catherine Murphy is the Whip. I call Deputy Boyd Barrett.