Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe has told the Dáil that getting people back to work is a central focus of the recovery.
Mr Donohoe said the Government wanted to make the recovery a job-rich one. Employment is expected to grow by 5.5% next year, meaning an additional 115,000 jobs, and that would reduce the unemployment rate to below 10%, he said.
Fianna Fáil's Michael McGrath called for more supports for companies. He said working capital was not sufficient, credit lines for larger firms were needed, and he said commercial rents were causing problems.
Mr McGrath's party colleague Barry Cowen said the Government was reaching legal limits on spending and he asked whether legal advice had been sought on