Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)

We listen to lectures from the Opposition benches all the time and normally we do not interrupt. I do not mind being interrupted if it is done to raise an issue to which I could respond. What is the alternative to making funding available under the European Stability Mechanism? Deputy Boyd Barrett is clear that his approach would be to default, refuse to pay and walk away. We know what credibility that proposal contains. Why does Sinn Féin not state that its position is also that we should default because that is what it amounts to? Deputies should note the language it uses. It states it argues for a write-down but never states what will happen if we do not secure a write-down. Would it simply continue arguing in favour of a write-down? What would it do if one is not provided? It throws in the phrase that it will burn one or two bondholders. Its position, in truth, is to call for a default. At least Deputies from the MLA have the honesty to say that.

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