Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

Colleagues have asked the question about the U-turn and where I learned of it. It is amply articulated today in various media outlets, which is not the place any Deputy elected to the House should learn of such a change in the Government's position. This is especially true today, when bond yields have risen over 10% and the position of the State is so precarious and fragile. The Government's negotiating strategy, which was watery weak to begin with, has now plunged into utter incoherence. The Government has resisted providing such time today and I ask that next week, at least, the Taoiseach presents himself before the House to give an account of the outcomes of the summit and attempts to give us some sense of the strategy, such as it is, which the Government is pursuing on this critical matter.

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