Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We in the Chamber have not got our heads around how serious is the issue of emigration. We seldom debate the issue in depth. In the past four years, six out of ten jobs among those between the ages of 15 and 24 have been wiped out. A total of 70,000 people in the demographic have emigrated since the Government took office, with 134,000 people in the same demographic emigrating in the past four years. The total population of the demographic is 630,000 people. This emigration has had a shocking effect on the areas which have been depopulated. We have deleted in large part one of the most energetic sections of our society. This has had a proportionately much bigger effect on unemployment levels than anything the Government has done. We need a singular debate on the issue of emigration.

This goes back to what Deputy Wallace stated, and the IMF has also said it. The critical point of fiscal drag is a negative multiplier whereby every euro taken out of the economy reduces the economy by more than a euro. I believe wholeheartedly we are at this stage or have gone past it. We speak about ensuring the books balance, but the books are balanced not only by cutting but also by growing. If the Government grows the economy it will not have to cut the wages of low-income individuals as much and ensure we do not forcibly exile such a large and significant part of our society.

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