Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the process the spring statement brings about whereby, as the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources outlined, it is open to all and sundry to make positive contributions as to how the next budget is constructed. It is very useful to know the financial parameters within which we will be operating and the extent to which we will have extra funds to spend. This allows us to make realistic proposals.

It is also useful that the spring statement outlines the way the economy has moved in the past several years since the Government came into power. I particularly welcome such developments as the 5% fall in unemployment. I will never be happy until we get the unemployment rate down to 0% because it has such a detrimental effect on people. I welcome the creation of an extra 100,000 jobs since 2012, a clear pointer as to the correct course the Government has taken. It is pleasing to see Ireland has the fastest growing economy in the EU with a growth rate of 4.8% last year and 4% this year. While projections until 2020 would be more tentative, they indicate a positive growth in a similar direction. It is also welcome to see that Government spending is coming into line with what it is taking in, as well as finally beginning to reduce our national debt.

It is a far cry from where we started off in 2011 when we had to borrow €55 million a day just to keep afloat. I am sorry that Deputy Colreavy has left the Chamber but it does bring into stark contrast the intentions of Sinn Féin had it got into power after the last election to tell the EU, the European Central Bank, ECB, and the International Monetary Fund, IMF, to take a hike. That would have left us in an impossible situation and we would not be getting out of the morass which Fianna Fáil got us into.

Since I was elected in 2011, there are very few things that surprise me. There were some minor political spats that one could not have written in advance but the broad picture has been pretty well as I might have expected, including the downturn in support for both Government parties. The one surprise, however, is that the economy has improved as much as it has, particularly when one looks at the economic situation in some other European countries. Long may that continue for the benefit of all those who live in this country.

All Ministers in this Government are worthy of praise, including the Minister opposite, Deputy Michael Noonan. I want to particularly single out for praise the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin. Without the work he did-----

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