Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

The Deputy from Dublin South-West is articulating what the loss of economic sovereignty means. This is the point this country has reached and this is what the loss of control over our own cheque book actually means. The Government is constrained in these circumstances. I am determined to return to a point at which the Government has the economic freedom to make freely-determined decisions based on priorities it would determine. However, we are not there yet and the next two budgets must ensure we reach that point quickly.

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