Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

While our economy is emerging from recession with growth returning and our competitive position improving dramatically with exports achieving a remarkably strong performance, our borrowing costs have increased significantly and our public finances still require a major additional correction. This correction amounts to €15 billion over the next four years, an enormous challenge, requiring considerable political leadership. At stake, however, is the very economic independence that, as a nation, we fought so hard for.

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