Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I listened to her back-of-the-lorry speech. I ask her to listen to my answer. The Government is grappling with an array of economic difficulties that were presented to us by the disastrous Government that preceded this one. We are making steady progress on the way. Employment figures to be published today will indicate that the number of people in employment has increased for the first time in five years and that the unemployment rate decreased from 14.6% to 14.2% in the last quarter of 2012. We have largely moved the path of restructuring the banks to a place where there is growing confidence for investment in them. That is having an impact on the confidence of people in society. We have a way to go yet. I think the nihilism, negativity and destructive views we have heard from those, particularly in Sinn Féin, who are willing our country to fail will be rejected by voters.

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