Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)

Her quote is not that long. I like to remind her of what she said because it is disingenuous for politicians to change their views when they get into their ministerial cars. In the concluding remarks of her speech on the Finance Bill 2011, Deputy Burton made an important observation and outlined what was probably the most damning criticism of the pro-austerity and anti-growth approach of the Fianna Fáil-Green Party coalition:

The central charge against this style of austerity politics is that it hinders the essential need to foster growth. Austerity as the sole component of policy is the naked triumph of ideology over economic pragmatism. The public who must endure falling living standards, higher taxes and rising unemployment rates may well be sceptical that there is any prospect of growth... The economy is desperately vulnerable and fragile.

Deputy Burton called for an end to the "tired old mantras, namely, that there is no alternative". She called for "a plan B". The words of the current Minister for Social Protection were true in 2011 and they are even truer today. There has never been a greater need for an end to the old mantras and for a new approach. Unfortunately, it is not contained in this Finance Bill or the budget that preceded it.

See this speech in context