Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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We on the left see it in light of the big stick used by the European Commission in pursuit of neoliberal policies to insist on permanent austerity for the Irish people. This matter did not feature in the detail during the debate on the fiscal treaty, for example. There was a general discussion but the detail was never alluded to. What are the costs that would be incurred if a country did not meet the targets dictated by Brussels in regard to the budget deficit, for example? Are the sanctions fixed in regard to the funds? Is the cut a percentage of funding, or is funding withheld? How does it work?