The Taoiseach says Ireland's unemployment rate is still "unacceptable", despite it falling to just over 12%.

Enda Kenny was speaking at the launch of the latest Action Plan for Jobs. The plan outlines the government's hopes to attract an extra 10,000 jobs from abroad over the next five years, in addition to the 100,000 previously announced.

The IDA is to be given more funding to boost Ireland'Â’s competitiveness abroad, with a specific focus on emerging economies.

The CSO says an extra 14,600 people got jobs in the last quarter of last year, bringing the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate to just over 12%.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny says that rate is still too high, but insists it is movement in the right direction:

The Jobs Minister says encouraging more women to become entrepreneurs is key to tackling unemployment.

He says a target for 30% of new businesses to be founded by women is an achievable goal:

CSO figures

Meanwhile, new figures from the CSO indicate employment increased by 3.3% in the year to the end of 2013.

The largest increase in jobs was in the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector, which rose by 30%, followed by accommodation and food services, which increased by 15%.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate also fell to 12.1% – down from 12.7% – over the quarter.