Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

The Taoiseach is being disingenuous because he knows full well the point made is that the issue of debt restructuring and write-down in respect of Greece has been conceded. In light of this how is it the Taoiseach does not pursue the matter of private bank debt and the huge burden it is inflicting on citizens? People have always paid their way and I and others do not appreciate the inference, made several times by the Taoiseach in the House, that there is some cheap skate mentality among the public. Why does the Taoiseach not put it on the agenda? The Taoiseach is proposing to hand over €700 million in non-guaranteed bonds to Anglo Irish Bank in 14 days time. Why is the Taoiseach doing this? Why is he not pursuing this argument at European level?

Last Sunday, Jean-Claude Trichet indicated that he favoured treaty change so the EU could impose its economic policies on member states. Will the Taoiseach tell the House and the meeting that Ireland does not favour this and that Ireland will resist it? Equally, will the Taoiseach tell the House whether he supports the moves to centralise fiscal powers at EU level?

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