Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We need more people to take up the positions available in our economy at the current time. Our economy has grown remarkably over the past 50 years. We are probably the only country in Europe to have achieved such an increase in population and economic development. That creates new openings. It also creates a better way for Irish people to consider the global situation. We live in a global economy and environment. The right to travel throughout the European Union is sacrosanct. Unfortunately, as the Ombudsman noted, that right is not entirely observed in the true letter and spirit across all European states at the current time. We need to impress upon our European colleagues in every way that we need to apply the rules as they should be applied and not as people would like to apply them in particular situations.