Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Maith thú. Athbhliain úr faoi mhaise don Cheann Comhairle agus don Taoiseach agus dá dteaghlaigh. Tá súil agam go raibh Nollaig maith acu. Bhí mé ag féachaint ar an teilifís ag an Nollaig ar daoine ag filleadh abhaile agus ansin ag fágáil arís. Bhí sé truamhéalach. Tá a fhios ag an Taoiseach nach gá go mbeadh orthu imeacht dá mbeadh postanna á cruthú dóibh anseo. Tá a fhios ag Sinn Féin agus ag go leor daoine eile go bhfuil slí eile, slí níos fearr, ann.

I invite the Taoiseach to make a new year resolution. I ask him to reflect on the 500,000 citizens on the dole, on mass emigration, new stealth taxes, VAT increases, the household and septic tank charges, pensioners, the distress in households and on workers on sit-in at La Senza and Vita Cortex. I also invite the Taoiseach to reflect on his support for austerity and his commitment in the fiscal compact to make austerity part of our Constitution. In particular, I would like the Taoiseach to reflect on the fact that €1.25 billion will be paid out on 25 January to unguaranteed bondholders. I invite the Taoiseach to make a new year resolution to stop this outrageous payment and instead to use the moneys to retain and create jobs and grow the economy. I ask the Taoiseach to share this resolution with the troika, who are back in town to start the new year with us. I ask him to tell them he will not invest or give away the people's money to unguaranteed bondholders, but will invest it in retention of jobs, public services and the creation of new jobs.

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