A junior minister has denied it suits the government to see young people emigrating.
Yesterday the coalition was criticised by the OECD for not doing enough to tackle youth unemployment - a problem which has seen thousands leave the country in search of work abroad.
Brian Hayes says youth unemployment is a massive problem but that the government are willing to work with the OECD on tackling the issue.
Minister Hayes says while young people may be leaving, there are people returning to the country:The OECD says the worst is now over and most of the heavy lifting to put Irish debt on a downward path will soon be behind us.
It says the country is on the verge of becoming the first bailed out European nation to successfully exit its financial rescue programme. However the international economic watchdog is warning that the road ahead is challenging with more needed to reinvigorate the economy.
In its latest two-year review, it says that while job creation is picking up long-term and youth unemployment remains unacceptably high.
The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore is also adamant that the government has not just sat on its hands and let the issue be dealt with by emigration.
More than 13% of the labour force remains unemployed, with more than 60% out of work for more than 12 months, among the highest rates in the OECD.
