Ivor Callely (Fianna Fail)

I agree with the call for a debate on the economy and fiscal policy. However, I differ somewhat from Senator Alex White who seems to be very negative in his approach. Ireland has overcome tremendous economic challenges in the past few years. While we certainly face new difficulties, we should not lose sight of what we have achieved, including the great increases in the State pension for older people and in child allowance, the great reduction in the tax burden, the fabulous addressing of the national debt, the 2 million people now at work and the totally unrecognisable change in our infrastructure.