Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

The Tánaiste and the Taoiseach repeatedly tell us that they wish to restore Irish sovereignty. However, they do not seem to be having very much success. They propose a referendum to give away even more control over Ireland's economic affairs while the German Parliament discusses the Irish budgetary situation when Members of this House and the public are kept in the dark. For a second time, the finance committee of the Bundestag, has discussed sensitive documents relating to the austerity programme of the troika - the Government's external partners - before the Irish public and Members of this House or the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, have even seen them. This is a ludicrous situation in which German parliamentarians discuss the economic situation in Ireland while we in Ireland are kept in the dark.

The substance of these documents, it seems, is also deeply troubling. The Commission's report suggests that the Irish State may require a mini budget in 2012. The European Commission appears to be recommending greater cuts and tax hikes. We in Sinn Féin have repeatedly warned that unless there is a change in the direction of Government policy, Ireland may not meet the troika targets and a mini budget may be necessary. If these reports are true, then it seems our fears will have been confirmed.

I understand the report also suggests that the Commission demanded a revised assets sale programme from the Government in December. Is this how €2 billion of a fire sale became €3 billion? Was the Tánaiste aware that the finance committee of the Bundestag would be discussing these documents? Does he propose to publish them? Is the State facing a mini budget in 2012? Did the Government cave in to a Commission demand for more State assets to be sold? Will the Tánaiste confirm that it is in fact Frankfurt's way rather than Labour's way?

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