Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)

Deputy Martin has had his chance. The Taoiseach did not answer one important part of the question. Was there discussion at the Council meeting about the fact that growth is stalling and contracting in Europe as a result of austerity? There is a widespread view among a wide spectrum of commentators, academics and economists, supported by recent figures, that growth is contracting and is being crippled in Europe as a result of the austerity policies resulting from the prioritisation of the bank bailout. Was this discussed or was there acknowledgment that this is happening?

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