Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

Long-term unemployment, one of the greatest causes of poverty, is down from over 5% in 1997 to approximately 1.5% today. This is an enormous achievement by the Government. I sympathise with the Fine Gael Party for being in Opposition. People ask what is the difference between one party and another. The answer is that one is in Government and one is out. The Fine Gael Party is out and we are in, and we intend to stay in for a long time.