Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

We need to demystify expertise and to hand back information and knowledge to citizens. What is interesting about this notion, and what they are saying is, now at this time when there is a prospect of real change, when the Labour Party, a party of the left offers not just a return to what was there before and what was falling apart, but something that can deliver a real republic as I have described it, the notion is that we all can go somewhere else for wider expression. If this was just some kind of innocence it would be all right. It is evasive philosophically and bad political science.

Those who regard it as political science to say that this Government is the most unpopular in recent history are also upset at the Opposition. So what? Let them do their political science and abandon their evasion and fear of being able to know the difference between right, left and centre. Let them look at the banks, who interests them and who seeks to influence legislation. Let them do a critical examination of the interest groups and, for example, of the group of people identified by TASC, the 50 people who are on each other's remuneration committees. This is the stuff that is being avoided.

I have listened to various speakers, including from the Opposition, saying that this is a matter of a new political culture. It is far more a matter of moral courage and of people being free. Those who wish to squander this moment of real and effective change and who ask for the votes of the left to be scattered are delaying the moment when we will have a Labour Party-led Government making the changes that are necessary. That is important.

With regard to what was called by a Fianna Fáil backbencher "the package" - I love it - the ECB was not asked or forced to take its responsibility for the €130 billion that had to be dealt with. The negotiations were poor. The European architecture that will be required will in itself require a renegotiated deal, not just for us but in the best interests of the future of Europe.

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