Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The reason we have will have a €30 billion deficit and a substantial stimulus programme is to keep jobs going for workers and to create opportunities, for young people in particular, in terms of activation and work. We are a global economy. Ireland develops well when it can export its goods and services abroad and people buy them. The international scene is not good. It is very important, therefore, that we take measures that can enhance the domestic capacity of our economy during this period, which is all about workers and giving workers a chance. Yes, small companies will benefit and companies will benefit to a certain scale because we want them to survive. Why do want them to survive? It is because they provide employment to people. There are too many simplistic catchcry slogans emanating. I have great respect for the Deputy Boyd Barrett as a thoughtful parliamentarian, but every now and again we get empty rhetoric that everything is about big business. It is all about workers.

See this speech in context