Despite some media comment, the economy is still performing very well when compared to our EU partners. We have a falling unemployment rate and continue to experience increased employment. This is not to deny that the economy has suffered from the winds of rural trade. Now more than ever we require the delivery of our public services to be lean and efficient. One only has to consider the experience of Aer Lingus when the hand of Government was taken off its back. Willie Walsh and the Aer Lingus unions rose to the challenge of the market economy. Aer Lingus survived and is now a thriving airline, something that was unthinkable only three years ago.