Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

I would not take a pat on the head from right wing European leaders as a source of pleasure or contentment when the reality is that the Irish people are being bled dry to save the major banks and speculators in Europe under the auspices of the leaders with whom the Taoiseach was speaking.

Does the Taoiseach realise the urgency of the situation? Bondholders are being paid all the time at different intervals. Interest is being paid and is being ratcheted up. The Government has lost four months. How many more months will it lose before it obtains agreement on this issue?

The Taoiseach said there was a discussion on the Middle East at the summit. Was there a discussion on the humanitarian flotilla of urgent aid for the suffering and imprisoned people of Gaza? Did he inform the EU leaders that the flotilla included a ship funded by the Irish people, containing a Member of the European Parliament, a councillor, a rugby player and other active and concerned individuals? In view of the atrocity carried out by the Israeli forces on a previous flotilla ship, did the Taoiseach urge the EU states to demand safe passage for the flotilla and a commitment that the Israeli State would not attack it in either international or Gaza waters?

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