Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)

I had not planned to speak in this debate but when I heard the Taoiseach's statement I asked my colleagues for some speaking time. The Taoiseach states Ireland supports the creation of stronger economic governance throughout Europe. What does this mean? He states Irish people are paying the price for the absence of such rules in the past and he is determined we will never return to the practices that drove our economy off a cliff. As a representative of some of the people of this country, I am not in favour of the view he expresses. He states Ireland should not fear this process. I fear it because it is a process that was partly responsible for leading us into our current position.

The logic the Taoiseach is laying out is that we are not capable of governing ourselves. In other words, having made grave mistakes in the past and fearing what Governments may do in future, we will tie our hands and lock ourselves into rules controlled by a central authority or set of powers in Europe to ensure we do not repeat our mistakes. We Irish people are capable of governing ourselves. While the previous Government made some horrendous mistakes, the electorate threw it out of office and installed the Taoiseach.

Since my election to the Dáil I have become increasingly concerned about a growing view that we are not capable of governing ourselves. According to those who share this mindset, we should be grateful that the International Monetary Fund is here and should allow the Europeans make the rules. We already have rules under the Maastricht treaty which were never enforced. The Taoiseach uses the language of "enforceability". The whole logic he lays out is that he, his Cabinet and the Oireachtas are not capable and should not be trusted. We - the Taoiseach, his Cabinet, the Oireachtas and Irish citizens - know better than the ECB and the Germans how to run our country. I accept the process is an imperfect one in which Governments make mistakes and are tempted into making foolhardy promises before elections.

Ireland is in an IMF bailout because of the rules imposed on us by central European authorities. I ask the Taoiseach to go to Europe and represent the view that we, rather than Europeans, should govern this country.

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