Taoiseach set to thank public for their ‘exceptional sacrifices’

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he will thank the Irish people for having to make “exceptional sacrifices” during this weekend’s landmark televised speech to mark Ireland’s exit from the EU/IMF bailout.

Yesterday, Mr Kenny said credit was due to the people, who faced many difficulties and challenges in the process of fixing the public finances and getting people back to work.

Mr Kenny said while the country will not be “flush with money on Monday morning”, the exit from the bailout would provide a psychological impetus to help achieve targets such as the 3% deficit by 2015 and the continued creation of jobs.