Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the short time available to me, I wish to focus on our budgetary policy. Over the past few months we have been treated to a charade of false debate and nonsense about the budget from the Government, but particularly from members of the Labour Party. The latter have danced around every town and village in this country saying that they got a reduction in the budgetary adjustment. However, it was revealed at the weekend that there is one message for the Irish audience and another for the bureaucrats in Brussels, with an adjustment of €2.5 billion here but an adjustment of €3.1 billion in Brussels. We have been treated to lie after lie about the budget adjustments. We hear that a secret communications strategy was drawn up between the troika and the Government about that adjustment. The Government must come clean on whether the real figure is €2.5 billion or €3.1 billion. What is the real position? Is the Government able to address the fiscal situation competently and in a considered way?

Those who celebrate the exit with excessive zeal ignore the fact that austerity is still with us. What will happen as a result of the end of this so-called bailout is that the Government will not be able to hide behind the bogeymen of the troika any more. In reality, the leading Government party, Fine Gael, would be implementing all of these policies even if the troika were not here. That party is absolutely committed to eviscerating our public services and to demonising those on social welfare by, for example, slashing the incomes of young unemployed people. Fine Gael is absolutely opposed to an expansionary fiscal strategy that would focus on economic stimulus. There is still an inordinate delay in accessing capital funding from the National Pensions Reserve Fund to stimulate the economy. That delay has been dragging on and on. One result of the ending of the so-called bailout is that the Government will not be able to hide behind anyone when next year it decides to take a further €2 billion via savage cuts and taxes, which will fall on ordinary people again, while rejecting any attempt to introduce a wealth tax, for example. Such a tax has been costed in detail by economic analysts in TASC and other reputable organisations.

I absolutely reject the assertion that we were bailed out. This country has borne the brunt of the bank bailout in a way that was completely out of proportion to the situation in Europe. I see this as nothing more than a giant public relations exercise from the Government. It is a day's debate during which we are told to line up, one after another, to congratulate this Government for savaging the incomes of ordinary people in our communities and for taking medical cards away from people with very serious medical conditions. In the context of the latter, the Taoiseach stands up during Leader's Questions, like the clown at a circus, telling us that it is not happening, but even Government Deputies know that vital supports are being taken from the most vulnerable. Travellers, for example, are one of the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in this country. A few years ago the budget for traveller accommodation was just over €90 million, but now it stands at €3 million. The budget has been absolutely savaged because groups such as Travellers and those with disabilities, unlike the IFSC Clearing House Group, do not have access to Ministers with a click of their fingers. Regardless of when this bailout ends, it is this Government's policy to privatise and savage public services and to eradicate any attempt at building an equal society. That will be the legacy of this Government, which I reject. I will not join the fanfare of support for this canard.

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