Mary O'Rourke (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

The 12.5% corporation tax is a positive, and the Government stated very clearly this would remain. It will not go up and I hope it may decrease if we overcome this recessionary period. There are many other matters in which the productive elements of this country were helped and will continue to be helped so we will be able to avail of employment opportunities if and when they come. We will be able to work through our difficulties and emerge the other end.

It is a very difficult time and it would be very easy to throw one's hands up and say we cannot do anything, it is all too difficult and we should all throw money at everything and everybody. We all know what the country would end up like then.

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