Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The leader of Fianna Fáil and many other Opposition Deputies constantly talk about Government spin. They do not realise that this Government deals in facts. I wish to deal with facts during this debate, in the first instance when speaking about the Fennelly report. The central charge made against the Taoiseach by the Opposition is that he sacked the Garda Commissioner. The conclusions of the Fennelly report show that this charge does not stand up. I will set out the facts of the report. Conclusion 14 in the report is that "there was no question at the meeting on 24th March of any proposal being made that the Government consider the removal of the Commissioner from office". Conclusion 15 in it is that "the Commission accepts that the Taoiseach did not intend to put pressure on the Garda Commissioner to retire". Conclusion 22 is that "the Commissioner decided to retire; he could have decided otherwise, but he did not wish to become embroiled in legal or other conflict with the Government". That is enough on the report. The facts are the facts and they speak for themselves.

In turning to the motion of confidence in the Government, it is important that we remember where we were back in early 2011. There were dark clouds hanging over this country. We were on the brink of bankruptcy. We were facing mass unemployment. The rate of unemployment was heading up to 20%. The nation was gripped by despair. There was no hope. When we went to the doors and met people on the streets, we could see fear in their eyes. They feared for their jobs and prospects, but they had a greater fear for the future of this country and the future of their children and grandchildren. They did not have hope. They were genuinely afraid. Four and a half years on, under the leadership of the Taoiseach, this Fine Gael-Labour Party Government has brought hope back to people. Confidence has been restored. When we meet people now on the streets and at the doors, they have hope and they see a future for themselves and for their children and grandchildren.

Members would be wrong to think I am saying everything is perfect out there. We are not delusional on the Government side. We know things still have to improve. Most people say they believe things are going to get better. If one talks to those who are involved in small and medium-sized enterprises, most of them will tell one they intend to increase the number of people they employ. There is hope and there is belief in the future. The restoration of confidence is the most important thing. This hope is backed up by the facts, as opposed to imagination and spin. It is a fact that unemployment was at 15% and was heading to 20%, but is now at 9.5%. It is a fact that we were losing thousands of jobs each week, but we are now winning 1,300 new and real jobs each week. It is a fact that the budgetary deficit, which was €22 billion in 2011, will be under €5 billion this year. The cost of Government borrowing was 15% but is now down to 1.63%. The economy has now recovered to the same size that it was before the crash. This time it is real instead of being based on a property bubble. These are facts rather than spin. We do not need to spin this recovery.

It is real, it is sustainable, and, most importantly, it is delivering jobs - real jobs. This is an enterprise-led recovery built on exports. It is a sustainable recovery that will give the Government the ability to pay for the improved services that the people of this country deserve. Our job now is to future-proof the economy by investing in skills, research and innovation and in our young people. This charge is being led by the Taoiseach, who has given clear example. He can show real leadership, which, I am sad to say, I have not seen anywhere on the Opposition benches for the last four and a half years. He has shown real leadership and has made real decisions in real time.

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