The Minister remarked: "Year on year the numbers signing on are decreasing. Today's figures show a decrease of over 2,000 people in the last twelve months and an impressive decrease of over 13,000 compared to the same period in 2004." The Minister added that: "Ireland continues to have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the EU and conditions remain favourable for a healthy labour market performance over the period ahead." The Live Register for March 2006 was 155,543 - a decrease of 4,074 in the month and a decrease of 2,132 compared with twelve months earlier.