I want to bring up the issue of our young people leaving the country. Some 68%, or over two thirds, of 18- to 24-year-olds are considering emigrating. We have bright, educated, talented young people who have no hope for their future here. It was sad to listen to them on the news on Tuesday evening, talking of finishing their degrees and emigrating. I understand why. They see their siblings and friends earning nowhere near enough to buy a house at, say €400,000; or even rent; or, unless they work 24-7, to cover their basic expenses. They are looking at years of saving to get a deposit together and then a mortgage takes a huge chunk of that money. In Cavan you need to be earning €63,000 per year and in Monaghan it is €64,000 per year to get an average mortgage. They are looking at Australia, Canada and America and leaving does not seem like such a big decision.

I see echoes of 2008. I have personal experience of that. We are losing a whole generation from our communities and it feels like Government does not care. GAA clubs are struggling for members and young people are leaving our towns and local groups. These are the young people who would have become coaches, teachers and committee members and whose kids would have gone to our local schools.

It cannot be denied demographics in Ireland are shifting. Almost one in four people living here were born somewhere else. In areas like Ballyjamesduff, Cavan town and Carrickmacross, over 30% - that is a third - of people were not born in Ireland. Why would we put so much money into the Irish language, sport, music and culture if there will not be a generation here to carry it on? We cannot build a thriving country on a transient workforce. Ireland should not just be a pit stop where people come for a few years to earn what they can and move on while our own people are forced to move abroad.