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

Is the Minister of State not concerned that three of the most prominent economists in the country, at a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform last week, roundly refuted what he is saying about the promissory notes? They said they did not see us getting back to the financial markets, that the State would need re-financing in 2014, that they did not believe there is any chance of our being in a position to get money on the international markets and that, therefore, we would be in second bail-out territory. They also stated that if this happens the austerity now being imposed will pale into insignificance and will reach Greek proportions. What does the Minister of State have to say in response to those economists who say something must be done about the €3.1 billion payments due every year on the Anglo Irish Bank promissory notes?

See this speech in context