Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

On the key issue of inflation, the Taoiseach stated that the two main elements contributing to the extraordinary position in Ireland are energy prices and interest rates. Is it not the case that those member states which are members of the eurozone are subject to exactly the same regime of interest rates and pay the same prices for oil and gas on the international exchange? Why is it that inflation in Ireland is more than twice the eurozone average?

What is voluntary, for example, about the forcible movement of FÁS and BIM staff out of the city? What is voluntary about their relocation? The objections made by them to Government appear to have fallen on deaf ears. The intention is to ensure they are moved out of the city irrespective of whether they want to. Would it not be sensible at this stage, given the endemic problems in the health services, to agree a timeframe for the introduction of a 35 hour week for nurses? This would enable nurses to return to work.

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