Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

The results of last Friday's election reflect the rupture that has ocurred in Irish society over the past year. People's lives have been greatly upset by the recession caused by global economic downturn but also caused by difficulties within our own economy. Despite what has been said by Opposition speakers, this Government has taken rapid measures to try to help people out of the effects of the downturn, to try to protect the vulnerable in society, to ensure that we maintain and secure as much employment as possible and to try to lead the country back to growth. This is what the people will base their decision on when the election is held in 2012.

However, the Government decisions have resulted in some very difficult measures being implemented and this has been a painful adjustment for people all over the country. Those adjustments needed to be made because when the Government examined the extent of our economic problems and when that global downturn occurred it became apparent that everybody would have to contribute to our recovery, even those who believed they had not contributed in any way to the economic crisis. The truth of the matter is that everyone would have to feel some pain otherwise we will not generate-----

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