Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Nevertheless, Sinn Féin has the gall to lecture the Government while being the leaders of austerity in the North. For all its rhetoric, Sinn Féin conveniently forgets the North when it wants to.

Before next year's Spring Economic Statement is delivered, the country will choose a new Government. The people of this country will have to decide who they want to stand up in this House to read that statement. Fianna Fáil is the party that caused the crisis in the first place, Sinn Féin is the party that would return us to crisis judging by its current plan for the North, and the Independent Members cannot govern themselves, let alone the country. The hard left is opposed to governing. In short, there is a pathway to difficulty and despair, which the parties opposite will surely lead us on, but there is also a pathway to continued progress, as set out by this Government in these statements.

The past seven years have been very difficult for our country. Hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs and many others emigrated. Many households have experienced debt and negative equity for the first time. The effects of the recession were always going to take time to pass. What has enabled us to get to this point have been the sacrifices and perseverance of the people in the face of uphill struggle. We have reached the brow of the hill and can see our destination, which is an Ireland of opportunity and prosperity for all. However, we have not reached that destination yet. It is in sight and within reach. The spring statement is a measure of the progress which we have already made. It is also a challenge to the Government to ensure to ensure that the benefits of the recovery are spread fairly and that nobody is left behind. This is a challenge which we can, must and will meet head on. At the end of the day, it is about improving living standards for families and individuals and creating opportunities for all of our children.

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