Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Before this House is a motion of confidence in the Government. Let us consider the record of the Government in which the Deputies opposite want us to vote no confidence. From being the economic punch bag of Europe in 2010, Ireland is on course to have the strongest economic growth in the European Union this year and next. Recent figures from the CSO show that GDP growth in the second quarter of the year was 6.7% higher than a year earlier and 5.3% higher in GNP terms. Unemployment, which peaked at 15.1% and was rising when we came into government, dropped to 9.5% in August of this year, and continues to fall. Critically, large reductions have been seen not just in the number of people who are short-term unemployed but also in the number of people who are long-term unemployed, which has dropped from a peak of 184,800 to 118,600 and continues to decrease. Some 66,000 individuals who were long-term unemployed have been given the dignity of work. Since the Action Plan for Jobs was launched in 2012, more than 120,000 additional jobs have been created, exceeding the initial target of 100,000 and much earlier than the deadline we set.

As well as creating the best possible environment for the economy to flourish, we have also sought to ensure the stability of the State’s finances. As per our commitment, the budget deficit, which was 30% or more of GDP in 2010, will fall below 3% this year. Next year the target will be well under 2%. As a result, the debt burden is also falling. Having peaked at 120%, this year it will fall to 108% of GDP. The net debt figure is some 20 points below that when we take account of the assets the State has in its reserves in the form of bank shares and cash.

We fulfilled our key commitment to the Irish people - that is, to ensure Ireland left the Fianna Fáil troika programme at the end of 2014. We renegotiated the poor deal done by Fianna Fáil, which has saved the State and taxpayers billions. Critically, the promissory note negotiated by Fianna Fáil has been torn up and €3 billion in annual payments removed. The economic growth we are experiencing now is structural, sustainable and increasingly broad-based, and the domestic and exporting sectors show strong growth figures.

Jobs are being created in every region of the country. Businesses are investing. However, as a small open economy, we remain open to future shock. We must ensure that the fiscal crisis that befell this country and its people never happens again. That is why we will continue to pursue a prudent course in managing the public finances, investing wisely for the future and providing much-needed services and support to our people, but doing so in a sensible and sustainable way that will not undermine our future.

There are serious issues, many of which were touched upon by earlier speakers. We are dealing with the fallout of the worst crash in our history. That is the mess Fianna Fáil left us, and this Government, having brought us back from the brink, will now pursue the solutions to these problems with the same vigour we brought to bear in addressing the economic problems in the first instance.

The general election will take place in the next six months. The Irish people will be faced with a choice between electing this Government, which can offer stability and prosperity, and electing Fianna Fáil, which broke the country and the party, or Sinn Féin, which is so addicted to the politics of crisis that it is incapable of articulating any sensible, mature or coherent solution to our problem. The people will have their say soon. For today, I am sure that Dáil Éireann will vote confidence in this Government and its fine Attorney General, which have steered the ship of State from chaos to calm.

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