The Fianna Fáil/Green Government is not up to the task of rescuing the economy and bringing Ireland back to growth, Fine Gael Innovation Spokeswoman Deirdre Clune TD told the Dáil in a debate on the economy this week.

Speaking during a Dáil Debate on the economy, Deputy Clune said: “The economy is facing a downward economic spiral that has been accelerated by the Fianna Fáil/Green Government’s misguided policies”.

The Government’s inept response turned an economic downturn into a dangerous downward economic spiral. Its knee-jerk response to the unemployment crisis was to increase taxes on low and middle income families. This has driven down consumer spending, put massive pressure on Irish businesses and has led to further unemployment.

The impact of the downturn could have been minimised if the Government had focused on creating and protecting jobs, retraining those on the live register and supporting small and medium businesses. It missed the opportunity and the damage has now been done, with unemployment now higher than 400,000 and rising.

Fine Gael is the only Party to put forward comprehensive and practical policies on job creation and restoring economic growth. Our 18 point package to help Small & Medium Enterprises (pdf 103kb), and the Rebuilding Ireland Economic Stimulus Package (pdf 110kb), set out detailed steps need on employment, restoring competitiveness, and focusing on training and helping businesses.

In stark contrast, the current Fianna Fáil/Green Government has nothing positive to offer. The Government’s actions have only made a bad situation worse. Ireland needs a Government with the ability and focus equal to the challenges we face. Fine Gael is the only Party to meet that challenge.