Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

We are in the euro zone and we know there are challenges. The Government is committed to ensuring that we remain competitive, that we have key policies in place, that we fund the national skills strategy and that the IDA actively markets the country. It is important we state that there are international challenges and that this is not because of failed policies.

This is an open exporting economy dependent on exporting to the global market. That is causing grave difficulty not only for Ireland but for our European competitors as well. I travelled to India and elsewhere but people are still looking to Ireland as a place to do business. We should not undermine the fact that this is still a competitive nation with a highly skilled workforce and that Government policies in place will ensure that continues to be the case.

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