Commentators who label Ireland a ‘poster boy for austerity’ insult the efforts of the Irish people – Donohoe

Speaking this morning (Thursday) at the European People’s Party Congress at the Convention Centre Dublin, Minister for European Affairs, Paschal Donohoe TD, said that the recovery that is being felt in the Irish economy is a work in progress and that the Government will not rest until our people are back to work and our country returns to prosperity (see full speech below).

Minister Donohoe went on to say that commentators who label Ireland as the poster boy for austerity insult the efforts of Irish people and demean their motives.

“Ireland’s journey over the last number of years has been a difficult one. But we have been making real progress; exiting the Troika bailout unaided, creating tens of thousands of jobs in the economy last year and restoring our international reputation.

“The efforts and sacrifices made by the Irish people have been instrumental in that progress. And the label attributed to Ireland by some commentators that Ireland is a poster boy for austerity insult these efforts and demeans the motives of the Irish people. These efforts have been made with one thing in mind; to get Ireland back to work and create a better future for all of our people.

“If we are to further strengthen our recovery and restore confidence in Ireland we must continue to rebuild competitiveness and fix our national finances. This must receive European support by creating a banking union that can break the link between the sovereign and the banks. We must deepen the Single Market and protect the freedoms inherent in our membership of the Union. Finally, we must build political support by using the Treaties to their fullest extent to respond to the concerns raised by some of our people. We are unwavering in our determination to do this and to steer the ship to calmer waters in a bid to chart a more secure and stable future ahead.”