Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Yes, it was amazing. At the weekend, the Taoiseach agreed a new fiscal compact. I mo bharúil, tá an Rialtas tar éis glacadh le coinníollacha an troika agus an fiscal compact seo fosta. Tabharfaidh sé cosaint dos na baincéirí agus an éilít. Cuirfidh sé leis an mbochtanas agus ghearrfaidh sé tuilleadh cruatan ar oibritheoirí. This new effort to regain our sovereignty contains a clear commitment, in clause 4, to introduce what is referred to as a "golden rule" on austerity at constitutional or equivalent level in the Irish legal system. Does the Government intend to place the proposed 0.5% deficit ceiling into the Constitution as required by the agreement? Will the Taoiseach state clearly that such a move will require a referendum? Does he accept that adopting such a policy will have a devastating effect on an already distressed economy? The Government has given a commitment to introduce austerity budgets until 2015. The new proposal would result in austerity budgets in perpetuity. How many more years of austerity will be required after 2015 to bring the deficit to 0.5% of GDP?

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