Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is reported that the Economic Management Council will meet today to discuss the total level of adjustment in this year's budget. The people listening today want to know how the budget will affect them. Will they have less money to feed their families, pay their bills and cover their mortgages? Will austerity rule once again? The Taoiseach must believe that low- and middle-income families have no more left to give. Austerity is not working for them. On the cusp of the Economic Management Council meeting, I ask the Taoiseach to give a commitment that budget 2014 will not add to the pain and hardship of these families.

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