Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak today on the spring economic statement. I first entered politics in 2011 when the people of Louth and east Meath gave me the great honour and privilege of electing me to represent them. When we took office in 2011, we were faced with the biggest financial crisis in the State's history. We had lost our financial independence, had to rely on a bailout to keep the country going, more than 300,000 people had lost their jobs, emigration was the only option for our younger generation and our economy was in free fall. In short, as a direct result of Fianna Fáil's reckless policies and its sheer greed in wanting to hold on to power, our country was on the verge of collapse.

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