Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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I appreciate the Commissioner's role and understand there are bigger demands being made by other European countries.

It is also the responsibility of the Commission to communicate with individuals who will see support payments reduced as a result of decisions or proposals tabled, at the end of the day, by it. It must take ownership of these proposals. Saying the Netherlands wants to cut more does not cut it. That is what leads to people turning away from the European project. They will argue, legitimately in certain cases, that the priorities are wrong. There is a guaranteed increase in military spending, but everything else is on the chopping table.