Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)

In his weekly newsletter, the Taoiseach, in the context of his experience at the European Council, stated he was very pleased in respect of the meeting at which the ESM was discussed and indicated that the latest provisions relating thereto will create a new playing field that will provide bondholders with a sense of confidence. In discussing the debt crisis with his European counterparts, was it the Taoiseach's priority to provide bondholders with confidence? That seems to be an extraordinary priority. Did he discuss with his European counterparts that his and their emphasis on protecting bondholders and giving them confidence, is having disastrous consequences socially for people in this country, in Greece and other countries deeply affected by this debt crisis? Is there any sense among our European counterparts that the programme they have put in place to deal with this crisis, in which all the emphasis relates to protecting bondholders, is resulting in terrible suffering for ordinary people? This country faces the closure of hospital accident and emergency departments, the lack of special needs assistants for pupils in schools, the sale of State assets -----

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