Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)

Many people listening to the Minister yesterday would not recognise the economy he was talking about. Life in the real economy, for the 440,000 people on the live register, the 1,500 people who emigrate every week and the 91 people who fall into mortgage distress every day, has got harder. Five austerity budgets have seen the living standards of the majority of people drop dramatically, and the Government is set to continue on this path. The austerity treaty will make life harder for these people as a result of harsher levels of austerity after 2015.

Does the Tánaiste accept the Central Statistics Office figures that show that GDP declined in the last two quarters of 2011? Does he accept that, on the basis of these figures, the economy is now officially back in recession? Does he accept that his policies are failing and leading to emigration, unemployment and mortgage distress? Finally, does the Tánaiste share the contention of the Minister for Finance that the only impact of a Greek departure from the euro would be less feta cheese for the Irish?

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