A “people focused economy”, no longer is in thrall to “the old, corrupt model” of “speculation, elitism and golden circles” must form the core of future economic thinking in the State.
This is the view of Labour Galway West TD Derek Nolan who said the Republic’s upcoming troika exit must be used “to shape a new Ireland”.
His comments follow those of Labour leader and Tánaiste Eamonn Gilmore who said in a recent interview with the Financial Times: “We will not let the Irish economy become some type of economic experiment for austerity hawks. Austerity alone is not sufficient for economic recovery or social stability.”
Dep Nolan said that the State is “close to recovering from the economic crisis” as “unemployment has begun to fall, our public finances are returning to order, and growth has taken hold”. Nonetheless he acknowledged that it is “still a trying time for families” as unemployment remains high and people endure “decreased incomes and high levels of debt”.
As a result he is calling for Government economic thinking to become “people focused”.
“The challenge now will be to use the troika exit to shape a new Ireland, an Ireland based on values of equality, solidarity, responsibility and fairness,” he said. “That will require an approach to the economy that is focused on people, not driven by troika terms and conditions.”
