Kenny: We will finish the job you gave us

Taoiseach Enda Kenny last night praised the sacrifices people had made in helping the country move in the right direction but warned that post-bailout Ireland would still pursue prudent budgetary policies.

In a state-of-the nation TV address to mark Ireland’s exit from the bailout, Mr Kenny highlighted the tough situations faced by many since the country was forced to ask the EU and IMF for help three years ago. Pre-empting the publication this week of the Coalition’s future economic proposals, Mr Kenny also pledged that numbers employed would grow by 100,000 to 2m by 2020.

The Government would cut debt, create jobs, never return to a previous culture of greed, and finish the job voters had “entrusted to Fine Gael and Labour”, he said in the seven-minute address filmed at his office.