Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Go raibh maith agat a Chathaoirligh, agus tá mé buíoch don Taoiseach fosta. I listened to the Taoiseach's comments and carefully examined the script distributed. I do not know who writes this stuff, but some of it is incredible. For example, we are told that we are now "giving real muscle to the process" of budgetary oversight within the European Union. The Taoiseach said all member states, "big, small, north or south," would have to abide by the rules. He spoke about needing to instil the "maximum degree of confidence at the earliest possible moment," but he does not say who will have confidence instilled in them. The speech included one gem, in particular, the reference to the need to "ensure as much of the content of the new treaty as possible is put on a clear EU legal footing."

The Taoiseach paid the usual service to the issue of growth, but he did not refer to the growth in poverty and inequality and the other social problems that are getting worse by the day. He also states, "It is clear that we need to deliver better educational outcomes...." One might conclude from this that there will be no closure of DEIS schools, no increase in student charges and no closure of educational institutions. The Taoiseach is getting good value from the advisers to whom he is paying huge cheques if it was one of them who came up with the lovely phrase:

I want next Monday's informal European Council to be a productive one, one which demonstrates the European Union's ability to focus on the urgent and the important at the same time....

I joked the other day that sometimes the discussions in this House were like an episode of "Father Ted". The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste remind me of Fr. Ted and Dougal; I am only waiting for Mrs. Doyle to come in at any moment and tell us, "Go on, go on, go on." If it were not so serious, we would be in the territory of Myles na gCopaleen, Spike Milligan or whatever one is having oneself.

The difficulty is that the Government is simply afraid of the people. It has made clear that it is totally in favour of the proposed treaty, yet the Taoiseach says there will not be a referendum unless the Attorney General directs that one is required. It is almost as though the Government, somehow, is not allowed to call a referendum. It as if it does not have the power to do so and that we do not live in a republic. The very least citizens in a real republic expect is that they get to decide on any agreement with such far-reaching consequences. This refusal to face up to holding a referendum, to call one on a democratic principle, is cowardly and unacceptable.

We have seen other Ministers do what the Taoiseach is doing today, namely, attempting to portray the choice facing the people as one of staying in the eurozone or leaving it. The Government knows that is not the case. It should seek advice from the Attorney General in that regard if it is unsure. The reality, of course, is that our position as a member of the eurozone is secure no matter what position the citizens of the State take on the emerging treaty.

The big question is whether the treaty is good for Ireland and Europe. The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste are clearly of the view that it is a good treaty, even though it is not yet completed and another round of negotiations is due to take place. Sinn Féin believes what is proposed is not for Europe and, in particular, Irish citizens. It is bad economics and bad politics. Tá a fhios maith ag an Taoiseach go bhfuil an Stát seo briste brúite agus nach féidir linn an bille le hAnglo a íoc, cé go mbeidh Anglo ag fáil airgid amárach. Méid mhór airgid atá ann, a d'fhéadfaí a chur i dtreo fostaíochta nó chun an córas sláinte nó an córas oideachais a fheabhsú.

The Government should reconsider its support for this deal. The systems are not working for the vast majority. We spoke earlier about the need to marry our economic and social progress, but we are doing the opposite. The Labour Party, in particular, needs to be conscious of the result of all of this. This is not a fiscal compact; it is an austerity treaty, as the Taoiseach knows. This is about right-wing austerity policies being imposed in perpetuity.

Providing in State law for the 0.5% of GDP deficit limit will require the Government to implement austerity budgets - I presume it would be legally bound to do so - not just until 2015 as demanded by the EU-IMF programme but for its full term in office and beyond. There are 450,000 on the live register and the Government is poised to close up to 900 nursing home beds and cut 500,000 home help hours at a time when tens of thousands of our young people are being forced to emigrate. If austerity was the solution, it would have worked by now. The significiant transfer of power to the European Court of Justice will emasculate the Oireachtas in terms of the limited authority it will have.

The issue for the Taoiseach is: in what state will he leave the State when he retires?

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