Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

I could read my speech, as other speakers have done, but it would be much more useful for me to reply to the debate in an open and honest way. It is important that the people listen to it and hear the utterly cynical and contrived speeches that have clearly been written by others with an agenda which is all about not telling the truth to the people.

We have a fundamental choice to make, namely, are we part of the euro, our currency, and going to embrace the new rules that are essential for its success, or are we going to take a different view and decide to economically and politically paddle our own canoe? That is the choice facing the people. It can be dressed up in hyperbole and propaganda, but I find the reference to a blackmail clause astonishing from a political party such as Sinn Féin with all its allies in the past 40 years. It is a past master at blackmail and blackmailing the people during that period.

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