James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is very welcome that we have the opportunity to contribute in the Dáil on the summer economic statement but also to reflect on the economic circumstances in which the State finds itself. In recent weeks, many people across the country have seen the extraordinary and cynical attempt by the Opposition, and more so Sinn Féin, to undermine the public's confidence in our Government. Listening to some of the rhetoric we have had to listen to over the past fortnight, you would think this country was on the verge of bankruptcy, that there are masses of people not in employment and that everything the State is doing is wrong. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have one of the lowest levels of unemployment in the world, our quality of life is among the highest in the world and we have one of the largest GDP ratios per capita in the world. Ireland is one of the best places to live or grow up in and has one of the highest standards of living on the planet. We have to put ourselves on that footing, backed up by statistics, which often do not suit the narrative of Sinn Féin. The reality is that this is a wonderful place to live.

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