Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)

In recent days, the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, Deputy Lucinda Creighton, said on national television that, essentially, what the Taoiseach apparently agreed or did not agree - today we are very confused in that regard - will make no real change. Do the Taoiseach and Tánaiste agree with the Minister of State that there is no real change? Was the 0.5% of GDP deficit ceiling already agreed between the Taoiseach and his EU counterparts? Is he saying there is nothing new there? Was the provision that the European Court of Justice would have jurisdiction to enforce the new austerity rule agreed beforehand?

Did the Taoiseach agree that the European Commission would have additional powers to oversee our national budgets? Was that already provided for? Was changing the voting procedure in regard to the excessive deficit procedure already provided for? Does the Taoiseach agree there is nothing to see here, no change, no implications for people? Does he agree with the assessment on the by the Minister of State?

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