Dáil debates
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
European Council Meeting: Statements
10:30 am
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
That is grand. I should not ask any further questions until Question Time. I will not ask the Taoiseach any further questions for about 20 minutes but I will talk about George Soros and report to this House what he said. George Soros said this austerity approach would condemn Europe into a deflationary debt spiral. The Taoiseach knows all of this. Some eminent people who he respects - whatever he thinks about Sinn Féin's perspective - are telling him that this whole approach is crazy.
The European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion said that by purely cutting wages, competitiveness does not improve. He also said that we must also invest in the labour force and that a more balanced approach, more solitary and cohesion among member states is needed because to end the crisis, Europe cannot rely solely on austerity measures. I could go on in regard to these matters, and I will get some opportunity now because we have a new Acting Chairman.
Let me present some solutions. I have already given the Taoiseach a copy of our proposals and analysis. I do not know if he had the chance to read it on the way-----
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