Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)

I have only been here for 16 months and I sometimes wonder about the relationship between the world in here and the world outside these doors, there does not seem to be too much of a connection. I do not have an economic background so I do not approach this from that angle but from the point of view of the ordinary person, who is appalled and disgusted by what they see happening here. It appears there is a bottomless pit of money and guarantees when it comes to banks but when it comes to the needs and lives of Irish people, they are told they must accept the cuts and make the sacrifices, that it is acceptable to lose their homes and jobs, that it is acceptable to lose special needs assistants, and that communities must accept that they will lose those supports that have made such a difference.

On Monday, the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs attended an exhibition in Liberty Hall that was organised by the north inner city drugs taskforce, featuring number of projects from groups in the north inner city that work with marginalised and vulnerable people, those in addiction, people from minority groups and those working with those at risk of suicide and other high risk cases. He saw the tremendous work being done by those projects on shoestring budgets. They have been cut already and must now accept further cuts.

This morning at the meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs we were reminded of the increases of the numbers of people living in hunger and poverty. A fraction of what is going to the banks would make a huge difference in the areas I have mentioned.

There is a sense that if the banks fail it will be the end of the world but banks have failed in other countries and those countries have survived and improved economically. There must be a limit, a bottom line, because the pit is not bottomless. Reckless financial and fiscal management are at the core of what is happening in this country. When will those exorbitant salaries, bonuses and expenses enjoyed by executives in State and semi-State bodies and in the higher echelons of the universities and the Civil Service going to be tackled and ended? At the other extreme, there are people talking about the effect of missing out on the Christmas bonus last year has had on their lives.

The Minister is convinced this is the way forward but the facts say otherwise. What do we get for this money being diverted to banks? It will not create jobs or pay for our children's education, it will not provide health or social services. The way we treat the vulnerable and marginalised is a mark of a civilised society but I do not see too many marks of civilisation in this country. It is unbelievable that we must accept pure financial fiction and economic treason.

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