Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Government has convinced the EU that things are going well.

It must be noted that between the third quarter of 2011 - when unemployment, in absolute numbers, was at its highest - and the fourth quarter in 2013, the numbers in unemployment fell by 75,000. However, the number of working age people emigrating was 116,000, while the number on labour activation schemes - training, education, etc. - increased by 29,000. In reality, the numbers have increased. The Government needs to tell the people the truth in respect of this matter. It must also deal with the fact that our economy is dwarfed by debt. We are dealing with a slow motion reality check in respect of this matter. In one sense, what Professor Morgan Kelly stated recently is remarkable because it is terrifying. It was also remarkable in another sense, namely, that he was stating the bleeding obvious. We have always known that there is no way our economy can repay our national debt, private debt or commercial debt, whether it be large-scale in nature or relating to SMEs. If the Government wants to get back the money to which I refer, it should tell those in the EU the truth and stop kissing their arses.

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