Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)

There is a chasm between the reality that exists and what the Minister is saying. He is dressing up uncertainty as potential growth, etc. Both Ireland and Europe have re-entered recession and exports are being hit. Some 50,000 people in the retail trade here lost their jobs in recent years and 1,800 businesses went bust in the past 12 months. In addition, 76,000 people - nine every hour - emigrated from the State last year. The list of statistics which damn the Government's economic policies is as long as both of one's arms. The Government appears to have a completely unrealistic view of or just simply does not know what is happening among ordinary people in this State. Each year, growth forecasts and tax receipts are revised downwards. It is time the Government began to revise its own policies in the same direction.

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