Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

It might be someone else's mobile telephone. No, I apologise, it was mine.

The Tánaiste's speech could have been written by someone who had not even read the report by the task force. I wish to read into the record of the House some of the aspects of that report which I believe to be correct. The report indicates that from January 2002 to September 2008, Ireland lost 32% of its international price competitiveness. In 2000, average labour costs here were 40% lower than those in the US and 10% lower than those in the UK. By 2008, however, they were 11% higher than those in the US and 19% higher than those in the UK.

I was happy to switch off my mobile telephone. Perhaps the Leas-Cheann Comhairle might chair the debate.

See this speech in context