Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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In regard to the concept of one's maiden aunt criticising one, possibly when the troika was here, the maiden aunt was coming in with severe teeth telling one what to do. Now we are involved in what is a multilateral process. Every member state is put under scrutiny and faces country-specific recommendations. There is a meeting of our peers where we can seek to get changes if we do not agree with something. Those changes can be made. We work with one another as colleague member states. There is a large element of peer review and mutual learning in this process. There is also an element of pressure in the process but there is a considerable amount of give and take and learning in it. Deputy Tóibín said he did not like the notion but it is a good process and given the problems Europe has had, we need to do this kind of thing. Not all maiden aunts are unconstructive and unhelpful.