Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Le meas, caithfidh mé a bheith an-díreach ar an cheist seo. The Taoiseach should not even think of going to the summit on Friday - and I say that with respect - if he is going to do what his Government has been doing thus far. It is completely out of its depth on this issue. The Government, including the Tánaiste and Minister for Health, has been misleading the Dáil on a range of issues, such as Roscommon hospital and other hospital services, the payment of low paid workers, the provision for special needs assistants and the commitment not to reduce welfare payments.

It has also misled the House on this crucial issue of the debt with which our people are burdened. The crisis grows deeper and it is the people, not the Government, who are paying the price. Before the end of this year - and this is a political choice the Government is making - we will have paid €800 million to unguaranteed senior bondholders in Anglo Irish Bank. Is it not time to change direction? Is it not time to send out a clear message that the Government will not use the people's money to pay for the greed of these private bankers but instead will look after Irish interests and the interests of Irish people?

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