Mr. Paul Murphy, MEP:

I look forward to Deputy Durkan so doing. If one asks President Barroso whether a silent revolution is happening within the European Union, he will say "Yes". Moreover, that is not the only time he said it, as he has done so repeatedly because it reflects a process that actually is happening. However, he is in favour of it. Consequently, one should engage in respect of the silent revolution that is happening and should make arguments in its favour instead of pretending it is not happening. Similarly, all the points I made in respect of the six-pack and the two-pack are facts with which one must engage. I presume members' parties consider these to be good things, which is fine, but members should defend them. Let us have an argument but one should not try to pretend this is not what is happening, because power is being transferred from elected governments to the European Commission. Rules are being imposed that comprise the imposition of neo-liberal policies. This is what is happening at present and we should be discussing whether that is a good or bad thing.

As for the point about Greece, I have heard a highly irritating point being made a number of times, which is that Greece is in this disastrous situation because the people protested. The left is not in power in Greece and the genuine left has not been in power in Greece. The people who have been in power in Greece over the past number of decades have been PASOK, which is the sister party of the Labour Party here, and New Democracy, which presumably sits in the same group as does Fine Gael in the European Parliament. These are the only groups which ever have been in power. In the last elections, Syriza almost came to power but did not. Consequently, one cannot place the disaster the Greek people face as being the responsibility of the left because the left has not had a chance to govern yet in Greece. When Syriza is elected- as I believe it will be- let us see whether it is up to the challenge.

In addition, one cannot blame the fact that people are protesting. There is mass homelessness in Greece. I raised the point at a previous meeting of this joint committee, with a Greek ambassador present, about the increase in prostitution in Greece. People were outraged and members were appalled that I was slandering the name of Greece. However, it is a fact. I stand in solidarity with the people of Greece and visited Greece five times last year. I have seen what austerity is doing to people-----