Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

The result was that unemployment grew dramatically at a time when the rest of Europe and economies internationally were on an upward trend. We missed out on all the development which took place in the 1980s, which would have improved and enhanced the standard of living for many people long before it did in the late 1990s.

One of the saddest legacies of that era was the number of young people forced to emigrate as a consequence of that gross mismanagement. I have said before that there should be some provision whereby when politicians of whatever hue make decisions for blatant perceived political advantage to the absolute disadvantage of the people, they should be brought to account and should not be allowed to serve in any future Administration or in either House.