Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

The most difficult issue Ireland has had to weather this year has been the crisis in the eurozone. Any changes relating to growth rates, as the Deputy knows, arise from the general fear that there might be a general recession in the eurozone. The introduction by the head of the ECB, Mr. Mario Draghi, of a form of additional liquidity directed particularly at banks to get credit moving again within the eurozone, enhance the reputation of the eurozone and restore confidence to the markets is welcome for Ireland. These measures will help our overall position, particularly if they are successful in inducing confidence in a market that has become deeply unstable and velocity of which is beyond the tempo at which sovereign countries, or areas as large as the eurozone, operate. As a former broker, Deputy Shane Ross knows this better than I do.

What the Taoiseach is saying to an American audience, in working to attract investment and jobs to Ireland, is perfectly appropriate and I hope it will have the desired result. The context of the visit to the United States of the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, is that when the Global Irish Economic Forum took place some months ago, former President Clinton offered to host a forum on investing in Ireland for American investors in New York. Is Deputy McGrath suggesting the Taoiseach should give a negative message about the country after all the sacrifices made by everyone and after everything people in the country have suffered?

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