Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)

Could the Minister of State outline her position on the European semester which was mentioned by the Taoiseach and discussed in the European Parliament yesterday? Under this the European Commission and Council will now get the first look at governments' budgetary plans in advance of elected parliaments and the European Parliament will not have the ability to amend the Council's diktats. How could that possibly further the democratic interests of citizens? Is it not just a recipe for imposing austerity because it is not possible to get away with it through parliament?

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