Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 29 November 2017

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs

Engagement on the Future of Europe (resumed): European Anti-Poverty Network.

2:00 pm

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. As I am involved in two other committees at the moment, it would be helpful if I was a magician. Dr. Healy laid bare the point about Europe not caring about the smaller countries and the ordinary people. I agree 100% with that. We are supposed to have equal status but perhaps he can elaborate on that a bit. When we had a crisis here the bigger countries literally shovelled money into Ireland, knowing that the banks were about to explode. The bailout was more of a clean-out. Since then those countries have shown no mercy. Perhaps Dr. Healy can elaborate further on that aspect of it.