Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

One in three of those under 25 is unemployed. Half the unemployed - 6.5% - are long-term unemployed. That is five times more than in 2007. Some 88% of job losses have been among those under 35. Some 55% have been among those under 25. That is the Government's record and we do have the emigration figures yet. That is the Government's legacy and yet it asks the people to take unfair cuts while it protects its friends.

People say the Taoiseach has been great over the past two weeks and that Fianna Fáil has put the country first for the past two years, but it did not do so for the past ten or 12 years. Fianna Fáil bought the 2002 and 2007 general elections and it went on a complete splurge. It was like a junkie with the people's money. It lost respect for the people. However, the people have lost respect for this Government. This Bill illustrates how far it has gone and it should be rejected. If Members opposite have any conscience, they should walk through the Níl lobby and vote against this Bill.