I wish to address my remarks to Senator White. I always admire her forthrightness and enthusiasm to create-----

It would be more appropriate to direct them to the Leader.

I will do that as well. I very much thank the Leader for arranging for the Minister, Deputy Bruton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, to come to the House in the near future to discuss employment. I have a bit of good news to announce to Senator White. This morning the Minister, Deputy Bruton, announced that the €90 million micro-finance scheme will be open for business from next Monday. Applications from businesses and sole traders across all sectors employing up to ten people who have been refused credit by the banks of up to €25,000 will be accepted and processed. That is obviously very positive news. It is projected that over the next ten years, 7,500 jobs will be created.

Unemployment will increase in the third and fourth quarter of the year.

As we all know, the Government does not create jobs but it creates the environment in which jobs are created. The announcement this morning by the Minister is a very positive move and I look forward to interacting with him next week and discussing all the issues and the difficulties businesses, in particular small businesses, are going through and the pressures small businesses face from operators in the black economy. We have a whole range of issues to discuss next week. I very much welcome the announcement this morning and look forward to much interaction with the Minister next week.