Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The wealthy have more ability, capacity and means to absorb austerity so their experience of austerity measures is very far removed from the experience of those on middle or low incomes, or whose sole income is a social welfare or disability payment. I am really appalled by the graphic image from the weekend of the wife of a discharged, bankrupt developer awarded €9,000 a month, which is considered appropriate by a judge for monthly expenses.

That is at the taxpayer's expense, at a time when people are lucky to have €90 in disposable income at the end of a week or a fortnight and we expect unemployed young people to live on €100 a week.

The troika’s loans facilitated the repayment of debt to banks and bondholders who had lent and borrowed unwisely. The conclusion that must be drawn is that the wealth of the rich is protected at all costs. It was very handy to have the troika to blame for the tough decisions, but at meetings with the troika it was very clear that the decisions had been made by the Government. We have heard the metaphor “turning the corner”, but one could ask what we are turning into; there is a danger that it is a cul-de-sac, especially when one looks at the reality of the exit. Everything hinges on the economy growing by 2.4%, but the extent of the debt is crippling. I pay tribute to the Ballyhea Says No group. The Technical Group will introduce a Private Members’ motion calling on the Government to lobby the ECB in order that the Central Bank will destroy the €25 billion in sovereign bonds issued in lieu of the remaining promissory notes and also lobby to bring interest payments on bonds to an end and for all related debt to be cancelled. What a difference that would make. One could imagine the situation the country would be in. The point is that we have more debt than we could realistically, let alone morally or ethically, be expected to repay.

In the docklands area of the Dublin Central constituency we have a massive reminder of the worst excesses of banking and development, namely, the carcase of the Anglo Irish Bank building, for which lots of suggestions have been made for it. Some say it should be turned into a museum as a constant reminder of those excesses. Another is that it be ploughed up and turned into an urban farm that could produce quality food for constituents in the area or that it could provide the site for the long-awaited primary school for the Sheriff Street-North Wall area.

People talk about positive signs, but what I see emerging is a rise in property prices and rents, an increase in homelessness and charges and a health service in crisis. There is no doubt about this. It is ironic that yesterday was the centenary of the founding of the Irish Citizen Army which was set up to look after the interests of working class people. The Government has stated all our woes are over. I would love to believe this. I hope it is correct, but I do not think it is borne out in reality. The Millward Brown opinion poll last week indicated that seven out of ten people thought there would be more tough budgets. I hope they are wrong and that the three out of ten who think we are in a better place and that there will be better times ahead will prove to be correct.

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