It is interesting to pause for thought and to compare Ireland's development during the first and second halves of its 80 years of independence. Until the 1960s, we were politically free, but economically dependent on our neighbours. Forty years ago, 75% of Irish exports went to the United Kingdom and 90% of our agricultural produce was exported to feed UK citizens under that country's cheap food policy. Our currency was still linked with sterling but we did not have a say when decisions were being made. The policies of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in Downing Street had to be adopted here, regardless of how irrelevant they may have been to us. Net emigration from this State reached one of its highest levels just over 40 years ago, leading to the establishment of the Commission on Emigration in the late 1950s. The commission examined the push and pull factors which broke the hearts of many families and the backs of many communities. The United Kingdom and Ireland shared a common labour market 40 years ago as a result of migration patterns. Words like partnership, industrial relations and public policy were not heard in that era, as we had inherited the British model of conflict between bosses and unions.