Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to sign my name to this motion and I compliment Deputy Ross on tabling it and on his contribution. I am delighted the Minister, Deputy Howlin, is in the Chamber to listen. The Government has tabled a feeble amendment to the motion. As I told the Minister's leader a few weeks ago, even Ministers' body language tells the tale that they have thrown in the towel and are not fighting the good fight. They are not wearing the green jersey and they are not delivering.

We have the Presidency of the European Union, on which I wish the Government well. I even got the nice tie in my pigeonhole today but Ministers should be ashamed to wear it because they are not standing up for the people of this country. We heard all about it last year and we heard the deal was applauded. I was in the bar that evening and heard people comment on how excellently the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, had done. We all believed and hoped, but we were sadly let down. The Minister's party leader used chilling words in Chile, but they were not half as forceful as those he used when he was when he was in opposition, when it was going to be Labour's way or Frankfurt's way.

Those who are hurting are the public, especially those who voted in large numbers for Labour and Fine Gael, because, sadly, they have been let down. They do not even see a fight or a bit of gusto. When responding to me during Leaders' Questions recently, the Taoiseach spoke about good speeches from the back of a trailer. He would want to get on a trailer or something else and assert himself. Along with the Minister for Finance and the Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, he needs to tell the other countries that this is not our debt. We are not reneging on anything, and are a proud people and entitled to be respected for that.

This debt was incurred here recklessly by foreign banks of EU countries. When they knew the game was up, they, along with speculators, kept shovelling money in here and they got away scot free. They have been rewarded and will be further rewarded on 31 March if this promissory note is paid. We should really change the date to the following day, which is 1 April, April Fools' Day, because that is what we will be - the fools of Europe and they will be ag magadh fúinn. The Minister is codding the people and letting them down.

We are passing this down not only to our children, but to our grandchildren and their children. What legacy is that for the Minister to leave? I respect his longevity in politics and his contribution. What legacy is that? Is passing this debt down to future generations the legacy the Government wants left after it? Why did it not assert itself and take up the cudgels? Is the best it can say that it will continue negotiations with the European Central Bank and that the current negotiation approach is the best policy? Nobody believes that; the Minister does not believe it. One can only negotiate so far at which point one needs to get belligerent. The Minister needs to fight for the country's interests, which is what he was elected to do and what he is paid to do. The Government should not force the country into penury and destroy the fabric of society with the different pieces of legislation it is introducing.

Deputy Ross referred to a threatened abyss. I do not say we should default; I say we should stress this is not our debt. Half of it is and we will pay that. I was one of the people who, along with the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, was summoned to Dublin some years ago to vote for the bank guarantee, and I did so. When I questioned it, I was told about the abyss, the big black monster and the hole into which we would fall. We did not fall into any hole, thank God. I voted for it and it was the biggest mistake I ever made. It was the sorriest day of my life when I saw the treatment we have got ever since. We had many of the same officials and advisers in the Department and now we are paying outside groups such as Ernst & Young, KPMG and others. It was a disgrace that the then Minister, the late Brian Lenihan Jr., got such advice at the time and then passed on to us. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. It is a bigger disgrace for the present Government to fall into the same trap even though Ministers told the public they would do it differently.

They told the public it would be Labour's way and not Frankfurt's way. Some members even voted against it. They then put on the clothes of their predecessors and are now even better boys in Europe. They are the best boys in the class and have been given awards and kudos in magazines around the world for being such good people. The longer they remain in office the further, not into the black hole of default but into the abyss, they will lead the people. They should consider their positions and go back to the people.

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