Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Yesterday, the Taoiseach reluctantly bowed to the democratic imperative and the right of citizens to vote in a referendum on the austerity treaty. Most of my remarks will focus on that treaty because it will have a profound and long-lasting impact on the people of this State and across the island.

Tá an reifreann seo fógraithe ag an Taoiseach ach ní toisc gurb é sin an rud ceart le déanamh - agus tá a fhios sin ag an Taoiseach - ach de bharr go bhfuil an conradh atá le síniú aige chomh forleathan agus chomh bunreachtúil sin nach raibh aon rogha aige.

This is a referendum that neither the Taoiseach nor the Labour Party wanted. He did his very best to avoid it. Sinn Féin sought its own legal advice and we were told that there was a legal and constitutional need for a referendum. Therefore, had the Government tried to avoid its responsibilities on this, we would have seen it in court. I am sure the Taoiseach knew that.

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