Mary Harney, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment today (Friday 2nd February 2001) welcomed the latest unemployment figures which she said were further evidence that Government economic policies were working.

The Tánaiste was speaking in response to the latest Live Register figures announced by the CSO which show a decrease of 1,300 in the seasonally adjusted figure.

The Tánaiste said "There are now almost 113,000 less people on the live register since this Government came into office and that is a phenomenal testimony to the success of our economic strategy. Nonetheless our success in achieving an unemployment rate of 3.6%, one of the lowest in Europe, should not make us complacent. It is still one of my key aims to reduce this further and in particular to reduce long term unemployment".

"I believe that the policies and strategies being adopted by this Government will ensure that that we continue to be the most attractive location in Europe for Foreign Direct investment notwithstanding fears expressed in some quarters in this regard".

(Copy of this Press Release also available on the Departments website at www.djei.ie)