Coghlan commends Govt on progress made since coming to Office

Fine Gael Kerry Senator and Seanad Chief Whip, Paul Coghlan, has today (Tuesday) commended the Government on the progress it has made since taking Office three years ago. Speaking during Order of Business in the Seanad, Senator Coghlan paid particular tribute to the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD, and his role in bringing about our economic recovery.

“This country has come a long way in the last three years. During Fianna Fáil’s last three years in Government, 250,000 jobs were lost in the private sector. In contrast, under the Fine Gael-Labour Government, 61,000 new jobs were added last year, meaning we are now creating more than 1,200 new jobs a week.

“The Minister for Jobs, Richard Bruton TD, must be commended in this regard, particularly with the implementation of the annual Action Plan for Jobs. Our pace of job creation is now outstripping all of our European counterparts.

“While the unemployment rate remains far too high, it is going in the right direction. The numbers on the Live Register have fallen for the last 19 months in a row and I am confident that further progress will be made on job creation in the year ahead, which the Taoiseach has designated as ‘The Year for Jobs’.

“We exited the bailout last year without the need for a precautionary credit line, despite the predictions of many members of the Opposition. Our international reputation has been restored and the cost of borrowing on the international markets is at record lows. This means we are spending less on servicing our debt and will have more to spend on important public services in the years ahead.

“The Government has a clear plan for rebuilding our economy and getting the country back on a sustainable footing. There are clear signs that this approach is working, and we will continue to work to ensure every home across the country feels the benefit of our economic recovery.”

ENDS