Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

By not including the text that we would implement the rules only if it was conducive to the social and economic development of the State, it is an admission that we will implement them regardless of whether it is conducive to the social and economic development of the State. This is a big problem concerning the path the Government has been following. We have been focused very much on targets, irrespective of the damage caused to the domestic economy, including employment. This has encouraged more young people to leave the country and is causing hurt to families and communities. Not only is the Minister ensuring we will continue to follow these strict targets, but he is also binding the hands of future Governments, irrespective of whether it is conducive to the social and economic development of the State. It is appalling that parliamentarians would enshrine in law such austere rules that do not take into account the impact on citizens whom we are elected to represent.