Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)

Last week I raised the issue of the democratic deficit and today I understand there will be an announcement in the other House opposing the need for a referendum. During Private Members' business last week we had an interesting debate on windmills. I second Senator Leyden's amendment on the issue. Clearly the Minister's reply was written by the public servants who implied they would legislate and write the guidelines and do what needs to be done when it comes to making laws. That is unacceptable. The House should draw up the legislation whether on windmills, mobile phone masts or any issue. That the reply from the Minister was to the effect that it was okay for the Senators and Deputies to do the talking and they would make the laws is not good enough.

On the issue of the democratic deficit, another German Minister said today that an offer would be made to Greece that it could not refuse to get out of the euro. The Germans are running the show. They already got rid of the Prime Minister of Greece and the Prime Minister of Italy and are telling Greece it will be given a chance and an offer it cannot refuse. Only the Italian mob would make an offer one could not refuse. The German Ministers are telling Greece they will make an offer. We are turning ourselves into a federal Europe but it is not a federal Europe being run by the EU states, it is being run by Germany. I hope the Government gives us the opportunity to have a referendum in order that the people can have their say because the people of Greece and Italy do not have a say. If the Government has its way the people of Ireland will not have their say.