Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

In the interest of co-operating with the Government, and I note that the Taoiseach did not take the opportunity to tell Members about the capital projects, I suggest, as I have said many times, that the Government will not cut its way out of the recession. Is it the case that between the Cabinet meeting today and the announcement on Thursday that the Taoiseach must go off and get permission from the troika, perhaps the best way out of this is to cut out the middle men. Why do the troika not come here and make their announcement directly to the Dáil and then we can discuss that issue? Unless we grow the economy and create jobs, there is no point in the Taoiseach telling us how unhappy he is about the number of people on the dole. His responsibility in Government and our responsibility in Opposition is to assist the Government in getting people off the dole and into meaningful employment.

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