Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, when this Government took office at the beginning of 2011 we inherited an unholy mess, including the bank guarantee and huge problems in the banks. We have had to work to get out of that situation. Over that period, we have managed our affairs in such a way that we will exit the bailout at the end of this year. In addition, we succeeded in negotiating the terms of the deal that was made by the previous government. In the first instance, it was to secure a reduction in the interest rate. I remember people in this House saying that we would not get a 1% reduction and we got over 2%.

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