Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Bhí sé spéisiúil éisteacht leis na Teachtaí a chuaigh romham. Tá an ceart ag an Teachta Buttimer, tá Fianna Fáil agus na Teachtaí a sheas do Fhianna Fáil roimhe seo chomh ciontach agus atá an Rialtas seo, go háirithe maidir le Anglo Irish Bank. B'fhéidir go bhfuil siad níos ciontaí fós, mar chothaigh siadsan an fhadhb sa chéad dul síos. Má tá duine ciontach agus má leanann sé ag cur leis an coir agus an botún atá á dhéanamh, tá sé níos ciontaí fós. Sa chás seo, tá an Rialtas seo chomh ciontach céanna le Rialtas Fhianna Fáil a chuaigh roimhe. In ainneoin gurb é Fianna Fáil a chothaigh an ghéarchéim sa tír seo agus a dhein scrios ollmhór ar an tír agus an geilleagar, tá polasaithe an Rialtais seo ó shin ag cur le sin agus leis an agenda céanna.

In the various speeches from Deputies just now we were called upon to be constructive and responsible. People were described as ostriches. I am not an ostrich and I hold my head up high because I believe in Ireland - I would not be here otherwise. However, many people in the Chamber seem to believe that they must be good Europeans first and they have forgotten about the need to be good Irish people - Éireannaigh maithe. This, in the face of demands from faceless gamblers, to whom they are willing to kowtow and give away Irish taxpayer's money hand over fist when it is not required. We saw as much earlier today and it appears we will see it again in January when a further €1.2 billion will be handed over to faceless, unsecured bondholders. This is the consequence of this Government taking power but it is totally contrary to the position adopted by the Minister for Finance in June this year, when he asked for the support of US officials in his application to burn senior bondholders. He might not have received that support or the support of Europe but that was the position he took publicly in the United States. What has changed since? Nothing has changed from the point of view of Ireland except that we are in a bigger hole now than we were at that stage.

The Government figures prove that austerity is not working in this State and cutbacks will not achieve the desired aim. The Exchequer deficit now stands at €22.2 billion, much of which is due to the bailout of Anglo Irish Bank and the recapitalisation of the other banks. There is a pot within that which does not need to be spent and should not be on our deficit book, namely the €711 million which was handed over today. The €3 billion handed over every year in promissory notes could be better invested in services and setting up a proper fund to create jobs.

The figures show that income tax receipts are down and projected VAT receipts have decreased by €383 million, a figure which will rise to €500 million by the end of the year. People are not spending because they do not have money. The only figure which has increased is income tax take, a result of the universal social charge, which is on the back of-----

See this speech in context