Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The Labour Party objects to today's arrangements. The agreement negotiated with the EU and the IMF is the product of a process the Government denied existed until the very last minute. The Taoiseach denied he was entering into these discussions or that any discussions were taking place and then announced them last Sunday week. These discussions were undertaken without any prior discussion in the Dáil as to their content or the Government's mandate and authority to conduct them. Instead, the discussions were conducted in private and the only information we have about them are the public statements made at their conclusion. The documentation, which sets out the detail of the agreements, has not yet been circulated, including the memoranda of understanding and the memorandum on economic and financial policy.

In any event, an agreement of this kind which is of such importance to the country, has implications for the country's finances and budgets for the next four years should not be finalised without being put before the Dáil for decision and a vote. There should be a motion before the House today setting out whatever approval the Government wants for it. Instead, we are again getting the same old formula of statements. If the Dáil – the Parliament of the country – is to have any real meaning, an agreement such as this should be put before it. In any event, I believe the Government is constitutionally obliged to put an agreement of this kind before the Dáil.

See this speech in context