Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)

I have two questions, which are themes of the campaign, as the Minister of State, will know when I put them to her. The Government's plan A is to have a "Yes" vote on 31 May but a plan B may be required if the people vote "No". Will the Minister of State give a commitment in that event that she will not allow the blackmail clause, as it is referred to, which links the austerity treaty, as we call it, to the ESM? We have Article 136 and the amendments to it that give legal cover and sustenance for the ESM. If it did not, the European governments would not have pursued it. Why would one amend an article if it is not required? Therefore, it is required to give legal force to the ESM. This means the Government has the ability to use its unanimous veto to re-negotiate. To be very clear, in the event of a "No" vote will the Government use this power to seek to remove this link which was introduced at the very last stages, is menacing and is blurring the debate we need to have? There is a great amount of detail in Article 136 and the Government never answers the question so I am trying to make as clear as possible what is the question.

It is estimated that meeting the 0.5% structural deficit will require an additional €6 billion of cuts or increased taxation. How does the Minister of State propose to do this?

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