Full transcript of Noonan’s controversial emigration remarks

Finance Minister Michael Noonan made his comments on emigration last Thursday at a press conference to discuss the troika quarterly review of Ireland’s progress under the bailout programme.

The comments were in response to a question from a BBC reporter, who asked if the Government had factored in emigration projections to their economic predictions.

The reporter also picked up on comments made by Eamon Gilmore earlier that morning in which the Tánaiste had encouraged Sinn Féin to pull on the “green jersey” and support Government negotiations with the troika. The reporter suggested that Irish people were being forced to put on the Australian jersey because of the unemployment and emigration crisis.