Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)

The level of growth in the economy during the past three years was approximately €15 billion. The economist Dan McLaughlin has stated that those between the ages of 30 and 40 years are most in debt. They comprise the Celtic tiger generation. For all the pious and patronising remarks made about the people of that generation, it is remarkable that the Government does not see fit to appoint one of its members as part of its Administration. Believe it or not, there are four people on the Fine Gael Front Bench who are under the age of 40 years.

I wish to describe the kind of lives being created by the Government for members of the hardworking, Celtic tiger generation. Never before have young families been so deeply in debt. That is a matter to which the Government must give consideration. Never before have young workers been obliged to commute for ridiculous lengths of time on a daily basis to travel to and from work. This is an issue with which the Government has failed to deal.

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