Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

In the context of the shadow boxing currently under way within the Fianna Fáil Party, the Taoiseach said "We are in a fight and we need a fighter." Is it not a pity that the Taoiseach and his Government did not offer greater resistance and put up a fight when the IMF came knocking at our door? Today is another black day for the people of Ireland as the Government draws down €5.8 billion of IMF funding, this in the week following a drawdown of €5 billion from the European Union. The situation we are in means this money will go to zombie banks here and, in turn, help the major players in Europe avoid their responsibilities, given they were the real reckless lenders in this over several years. Frankly, the money will head straight back out of this country, leaving the taxpayers of Ireland in deeper and more serious debt.

Does the Taoiseach accept that what is unfolding today and what will continue for some time to come is as a direct result of the Government's disastrous banking policy and is indicative of a policy that has seen a manageable State deficit being merged with an unmanageable private banking debt?

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