I wish to move the Árd Comhairle emergency motion on the All Ireland public finance policy which states that
 
‘This Árd fheis endorses and adopts the all-Ireland public finance policy ‘Financing the Future’
 
I would also like to speak on behalf of the Árd Comhairle on motions 70 and 71 and to amend motion 93 to read as follows
 
This Árd Fheis opposes any further reduction in public sector pay except among the highest paid management, including State Agency/Board management and instead calls on the government to introduce an equitable tax system.
 
The lesson of the current crisis is that we need to be more proactive and farseeing in economic planning.  The economy’s exposure to global economies shock needs to be reduced.  This would require a significant transformation from the point where at present the state is one of the most exposed states to global economic shocks.
 
Sustainable economic roots must be put down.
 
Since this recession hit home, we as a party, have made a number of proposals to revive our ailing economy, Tax justice examples, tax bands, standardising tax reliefs-all of which are available in our newly published Financing the Future document.
 
 
In this last year we have seen an unprecedented level of attacks on our workers , public services and ultimately, upon whole communities.
 
Citizens are burdened with private debts that require them to mortgage their lives to put a roof over their heads, and pay for privatised goods such as health, childcare and elder care.
 
Economic circumstances are changing, Ireland is not competitive but cutting wages, slashing public services and delivering people into poverty will not make Ireland competitive.
 
Competitiveness is underpinned by stable public finances a working banking system, and a broad vision for the economy and society. Fianna Fáil has provided none of these. There is no vision. There is no plan, there is only casino capitalism.  Speculation was prioritised over sustainable development for over a decade.
 
Irelands future competitiveness cannot and must not be based on a low wage, low tax system.  We cannot hope to build the kind of physical and social infrastructure needed to improve our competitiveness if we continue to cut taxes as some in the business community are demanding.  We should approach our revenue intake as a means to developing the state, not as the sole way of attracting Foreign direct Investment to Ireland.
 
The current dominance of Nordic economic competitiveness, stands in direct contrast to the conventional wisdom that low taxes, low wages drive economies.   
 
We need to start thinking of export led growth in terms of our own indigenous enterprise.  There are many indigenous industries and companies that, once given a lead by Government will achieve export led economic growth, and will provide employment-something the government have failed abysmally to do thus far.
 
Don’t allow our economic policy to sit in documents. Bring it to the people.