Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

In his discussions in the United States, was the Taoiseach able to cast any light on the claim that the US Government's Financial Secretary had vetoed the idea that €30 billion of bondholders' bad gambling debts should not become the responsibility of the Irish people? That was flatly refused by the US Government. Did the Taoiseach get any insight into that in America or from his recent talks with President Obama here?

With regard to the global economic forum and multinational corporations, while every job is absolutely vital for each worker concerned and must be protected, does the Taoiseach not recognise that much of this investment is highly capital-intensive? Even the Government's jobs initiative document explains that it does not yield major job creation. Does the Taoiseach not see a contradiction between crushing the domestic economy with austerity proposals, while on the other hand seeking a second global economic forum?

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