Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Ba mhaith liom tacú leis an rún. I thank the Technical Group for tabling the motion. Sinn Féin has seen the document detailing the European Council's package of measures to be presented to EU leaders in Brussels tonight. It is amazing that I, as leader of an Opposition party, must bring the document to the Dáil. The Taoiseach refused to share the Van Rompuy proposals with the Opposition. The document contains a number of significant treaty changes aimed at imposing austerity on EU member states. It also includes proposals for forcing member states to enshrine the same golden rules of austerity in member state law. What we saw yesterday could become law.

The proposals also seek to give the European Commission and the euro group far-reaching powers to interfere with state budgets. They want to take decision making on crucial areas of economic and fiscal policy from democratically elected politicians and hand them to unelected eurocrats in Brussels. These proposals are bad for the Irish people and for people throughout the European Union. They will plunge us all into not just a few years but a decade or decades of stagnation. The proposals are bad for our economy and for our democracy - or what passes as democracy.

The proposals include a prohibition on any burden sharing aimed at reducing the unsustainable levels of debt held by countries such as this State. This week the Taoiseach ruled out a debate I have called for on four occasions since the French President and German Chancellor came forward with their proposals and it emerged the Government had sight of the Van Rompuy proposals.

There is much talk about political reform and transparency but leaving everything else aside, this is no way to deal with negotiations as serious as these. It is reflective of the arrogant way the Government treats the Dáil. An bhfuil cóip de na moltaí ag na Teachtaí Dála Rialtais? Have Government Deputies seen these proposals? Munar bhfuil, cén fáth nach bhfuil? Why are we being kept in the dark? Why are Government and Opposition Deputies with a mandate not being shown these? Tá cearta ag gach duine a chaitheann vóta anseo, mar aon leis an Fhreasúra, moltaí Van Rompuy a fheiceáil anois. The other problem is that the Taoiseach supports these proposals. He has made clear that he is in favour of enforceable conditions and stronger governance for the European Union and the eurozone. This is a major mistake.

Is léir óna moltaí seo go bhfuil deireadh le haon chumhacht fhioscach á mholadh, rud a théann i bhfad níos faide ná leasuithe teoranta ar an chonradh. Bhí an Taoiseach mar cheannire ar Fhine Gael agus mar bhall den EPP a thugann le chéile páirtithe eile cosúil lena pháirtí féin trasna na hEorpa. Aontaíonn an Rialtas gur cheart tuilleadh lárú a dhéanamh ar an AE.

I Meán Fómhair 2009 d'iarr an Taoiseach agus an Tánaiste ar dhaoine vótáil ar son chonradh Liospóin le tuilleadh cumhacht fhioscach a thabhairt don AE. Anois, áfach, níl an Taoiseach ansin mar cheannaire Fhine Gael nó mar bhall den EPP, tá sé ann le seasamh ar son chearta na nÉireannach.

The reality is that what is being proposed outside of the document goes far beyond limited treaty change. It clearly involves the loss of any remaining fiscal powers. Last night it was announced the French President and German Chancellor propose a new framework with the goal of creating a common tax base which would see the end of our corporation tax rate. This could be a negotiating ploy and no more than a ruse. Whatever the truth, it is time for the Government and its Teachtaí Dála to face the truth and facts.

The EU and the French and German Governments want a stronger centralised fiscal union which requires the Government to give away more of our economic sovereignty. The Government seems to be sleepwalking into this proposition and in my view this is because it agrees with it. The question put by the strong states must be answered with a very firm "No". This is the only legitimate position the Taoiseach can take. It is also a position which in my opinion is favoured by citizens throughout the European Union as well as Irish citizens because progressive citizens from all political backgrounds are concerned at the loss of their rights. As was stated earlier, the Taoiseach needs to put on the green jersey.

Sinn Féin is the only party which has been consistent in our position on successive EU referendums. The Labour Party in the form of its various manifestations from Sinn Féin, Official Sinn Féin, Sinn Féin The Workers Party, The Worker's Party, New Agenda - I forget the other various titles-----

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