Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

We should cast our minds back. Quite a number of people played significant roles in shaping the economy. Great credit is due to Mr. Alan Dukes who took a courageous decision to support a minority Government back in 1987. Credit is also due to Mr. Ray MacSharry who was Minister for Finance at that time. In addition, great credit is due to the rainbow Government which was in office from 1994 to 1997. In 1996 and 1997 the economy was creating 50,000 jobs per year, compared with an annual figure of 70,000 jobs now.