- Martin at the ard fheis.
Thousands of people have attended a Dublin jobs fair advertising overseas work opportunities, this as Fianna Fáil simultaneously apologized for its "mistakes" in bringing Ireland to its knees economically.
Last weekend's job fair in Dublin's RDS took place at the same time as the Fianna Fail ard fheis. Over 12,500 people packed into the fair to explore opportunities to work in countries including Canada.
Many were turned away from the venue as lines stretched for half a mile outside.
Nearby, Fianna fail leader Michael Martin apologized for overseeing the economy as it went from the Celtic Tiger boom years to its current disastrous state.
"We made mistakes. We got things wrong and we are sorry for that," Martin told party members.
"No equivocation, no half apology, just the plain, unvarnished truth."
His apology earned him a standing ovation, but the results of recession were visible just yards away, with thousands of young jobseekers keen to leave Ireland behind and secure work overseas.
Describing the overwhelming demand for opportunities abroad offered by representatives of over 50 international companies, jobs fair organizer David Walsh said: "We had to close early because we were just overrun by demand. We had people queuing from 6.30 a.m. to get in for 10 a.m. It's heart breaking and very humbling."
Another fair this week in Cork City is also expected to be swamped with applicants.
Meanwhile, at the FF ard fheis, Mr. Martin continued his admission that the party got it wrong over the financial crisis.
"It's not enough to point to the worst world recession in 80 years and the eurozone crisis. Nor to point to the fact that other parties were demanding policies which would have made things worse. That is for them to answer for. We were in government and we should have acted differently," he said.
