Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am very pleased to have the opportunity to say a few words about the very important spring statement given yesterday in the Dáil. The Government has been very busy repairing the economy and public finances to create jobs and give hope and confidence to our citizens for a better future.

There is no doubt that is happening and confidence in the economy is returning. All over the world, people see that a country which was broken only a few years ago has become one of the fastest growing economies in Europe. This change has occurred as a result of the difficult decisions taken in this House. It is hard for public representatives to make difficult decisions because we depend on people and difficult decisions do not go hand in hand with votes. However, to be true to oneself and one's country, one must be honest in one's dealings and do what is best for the nation. Populism goes down well in the constituency or on local radio and other media outlets but public representatives must be honest on behalf of the generations to come.

I have been in politics for long enough to remember the promises made by Jack Lynch in 1977 when the Fianna Fáil Party promised to abolish rates and made other populist commitments to get into power. Many people will also remember that the economy subsequently crashed, people lost their jobs and inflation and interest rates reached 20%. I listened intently to the contributions of two previous speakers, one from Fianna Fáil, the other from Sinn Féin. Both parties want to abolish Irish Water and household and water charges, recruit an additional 3,500 teachers, provide more grants for agricultural communities and build more houses without taking into consideration the people who are rehoused and the money required to do so. Their speeches summed up the choice facing people at the next general election. Voters must choose between steady economic growth that is the envy of Europe or the spend, spend and spend more policies of the Opposition. Where will the Opposition parties find the money to increase spending? They will increase taxation on low, middle and high earners. Low paid workers can look forward to an increase in their annual tax bill of approximately €3,500 per person under a Government led by the Opposition. Figures must always add up and one plus one makes two and ten plus ten makes 20. The money needed for spending commitments must be provided.

Some months ago, a Greek opposition party told Greek people it had another way. Deputies, if they are honest, will admit that the other way did not work and Greek people have learned this to their cost. Incomes and public services have been eroded in Greece because voters abandoned a government that was true, honest and open. Irish people face a similar choice at the next election. They must decide if they will keep what they have and vote for a Government that has positioned the country to succeed and benefit from new opportunities.

Most of the young people who left every corner of Ireland for Australia, Canada and other parts of the world in recent years would love to return home. Now is the time for them to do so. Let no one who has a soft job prevent them from returning. We must welcome them and every Member of the Oireachtas should make every effort to allow them to come home. The way to do this is simple - we must keep interest rates low. In the past, we had interest rates of 16% and a broken and bust economy. Unlike Greece, which cannot borrow at an interest rate of 16%, Ireland can borrow at a rate of 1%. This is not a fairy tale but the truth.

Young Irish emigrants can return and build homes for less than half the cost of some years ago. Interest rates are low and people can now afford to borrow for a home. New opportunities are opening up across the country, notably in the food sector. Some months ago, we produced a package for the forestry sector, for which I am responsible, that will open up new opportunities and challenges. Rather than talking down rural areas, we should seek out opportunities in agriculture, forestry and tourism.

The tourism industry can prosper because prices are competitive and people from abroad can afford to visit. The extremely successful Wild Atlantic Way and the planned new tourism route in the south-east provide major opportunities for the sector. Food and hotel prices have levelled out and the cost of holidaying here has fallen as a result of the prudence shown by the Government and the tough economic decisions it took in recent years.

People will have an opportunity to make a judgment call on the country's future prosperity. They cannot have it both ways. The next election will be a choice between the Government's way or the Opposition's way.

The spring economic statement sets out what we can do in the years ahead. We have created opportunities to develop agriculture. Milk quotas have been abolished and farmers have an opportunity to expand milk production. As I speak, farmers are planning to produce new milk products and sell them all over the world. Ireland has the environment to produce good food and it can be a global market leader in food. I have no doubt we will rise to this challenge. We must maintain economic competitiveness and low interest rates to meet the challenges that other European countries may present.

Job creation is also a challenge. I will be the first to accept that Dublin is doing well in this regard and employment growth has been slow in rural areas. The Government must work hard in this area. I have no doubt, however, that the new programme we have introduced to encourage industry in rural areas will continue and will be important for the development of towns and regions.

People face a clear choice between stability and instability. If we want proper government and stability, we must continue to pursue current policies. We will provide a good future for young people, the middle aged and elderly people.

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