Dáil debates

Tuesday, 21 February 2012

4:00 pm

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)

Does the Taoiseach accept what health professionals in Greece and Ireland are stating, namely, that austerity has led to a dramatic increase in suicide rates? Is the Taoiseach stating that there is no connection and that it is just a coincidence? Is he saying that a reduction of 12,000 in numbers in the community and voluntary sector, as a result of the cuts introduced by the Government, represents job creation? Will this be of assistance in resolving the problem of youth unemployment or will it instead do immense damage? I am not surprised that a Fine Gael Taoiseach would dismiss the points I am making. However, I am actually shocked that the Minister, Deputy Burton, is nodding in agreement, particularly when the ICTU has referred to a massacre in respect of community and voluntary services and has highlighted the damage being done to our most disadvantaged communities.

Is the Taoiseach seriously disputing the fact that there has been a dramatic and accelerating contraction in growth across the European economy as a result of the imposition of austerity measures? Surely he is not denying the existence of such a contraction. If he is, then I put it to him that what Paul Krugman referred to as delusional beliefs about the virtues of austerity are truly rife in this House. Is the Taoiseach in a position to indicate whether there is a connection between suicide and the austerity that is being imposed in Greece and Ireland? Does it concern him that the rates of poverty and child poverty in this country are increasing faster than is the case in Greece?

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