Watch: Taoiseach outlines challenges facing Ireland in state of the nation address

Enda Kenny addressed the nation in a historic televised event this evening. Watch it now…

TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has spoken in a televised address to the nation tonight. Kenny said that the upcoming budget would be a “tough” one but warned that “it has to be”.

Among the measures announced in the address were that the government will merge or abolish 50 quangos. Kenny also pledged that the public sector will be downsized by 23,000 people by 2015. He said that a referendum to abolish the Seanad will be held next year.

The Taoiseach said mistakes which brought the country to this point “must never be allowed to happen again” and told viewers “you are not responsible for this crisis”.

Watch the address to the nation in full here (via RTÉ):

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