Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)

It is interesting hearing that barney between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil considering they are on the same page on this issue. It is fascinating to hear them try to find an area where they can disagree. At this point, most Irish people know what caused the collapse and what brought us to this position. We have moved on from that debate and the argument the Deputies are having here is far too late. People are concerned now about how we move forward. There is no argument between the Government parties and Fianna Fáil on the road map for the future.

It sickened me to listen to Deputy Lenihan throwing out accusations that I and others in my party, along with many others who are not involved in politics, who are involved in the international bond markets, who are economists, academics and international observers, are involved in economic treason. Because we believed there should be burden sharing or burning of bondholders, an internationally accepted term, and put forward proposals to that end, Deputy Lenihan has the audacity to stand up and say that is akin to economic treason. He was maybe struggling to find words in his contribution that could distinguish his ideas from those of the Government, because it is following the road map he laid down.

His analysis of the situation - that the making of alternative suggestions by other interested parties led to the severity of the crisis - is completely off the mark.

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