Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Clearly, the Taoiseach agreed to the treaty changes which were discussed on Sunday and this does not square with his previous objections on that position. If I may say so, his previous position was the right position to take to treaty change. There is a need for the Taoiseach to make it very clear in his remarks today that if this occurs, he will call a referendum and give citizens their say on the issue.

I remind the Taoiseach of the speech he made to the Institute of Directors in which he said:

We will regain our economic sovereignty. We will restore the good name of Ireland among the nations of the world. This is my mission. This is the Government's mission. This is our mission. And there will be no rest until we succeed.

In order to be true to that commitment, the Taoiseach must use the opportunity today to set out his intention to oppose any change in the European treaties, limited or otherwise, and that if he loses that battle, he will go to a referendum. This is not an abstract nor a party political call. These are important issues of democracy. Citizens have the right to have their say.

While this is important at any time, it is crucial at a time when the policies being pursued by the Government are creating so much hardship. Unemployment is rife in communities across this State, with almost half a million people unemployed. The Taoiseach tells us this deal is working for Ireland, but I cannot see that. Almost half of those on the live register have been unemployed for a year or more. Our young people are facing the choice of the dole, the boat or the plane. Some 80,000 young people struggle on the live register and a further 40,000 people are expected to emigrate within a year. Children with special needs are being denied appropriate support and families in negative equity struggle to pay bills.

This all shows the deal is not working, yet the Government continues with these policies. It will bring in a budget and depending on who is talking on behalf of the Government, it will involve savings of somewhere between €3.5 billion and €4 billion. Is féidir roghanna eile a dhéanamh. Tá a fhios ag an Taoiseach gur í obair an Rialtas í ceist a chur faoin rogha atá romhainn. Deireann daoine nach bhfuil slí nó bealach eile ann, ach tá sin mícheart. Tá slí agus bealach eile ann.

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