Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

It is the straightest answer I ever got. I also understand that the Taoiseach's birthday wish is to be the Taoiseach who regains Irish sovereignty. Yet the austerity treaty he is supporting means handing away more and more sovereignty to unelected officials in Europe. Tá an conradh seo lochtach, tá a fhios ag an Taoiseach sin. Baineann sé go hiomlán le austerity agus is léir nach bhfuil maitheas ar bith sa chonradh do na daoine. As the Taoiseach will know, that is the view of more and more opinion makers in this State and across the European Union. There is nothing in the treaty to stimulate growth or job creation. When the current bailout programme ends, and if the treaty goes through, it will mean a further €6 billion worth of austerity for Irish citizens. It will mean more cuts to front line education and community services, as well as more stealth taxes like the household charge, septic tank charges and water charges.

Today is the Taoiseach's birthday and I understand that it is also the Tánaiste's birthday.

See this speech in context