Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy's comments bring us to the heart of the matter. His basic thesis is that we should have reneged on the solemn commitments made by the previous Dáil, which I voted against, in respect of our requirements. What would have been the consequences if the Government had decided not to pay the debts in question? We would have defaulted and would not have had funding for public services, as the troika was the only funder available to us until the end of last year. Our public services would have collapsed as a result. This prospect may have suited the thesis of those who believe anarchy is the way to a new society. However, those of us who want to have decent public services and standards of living, as opposed to a collapse into anarchy, cannot afford to live in a fantasy world in which the nation can default without consequences. Most ordinary people fully understand that is fantasy land.

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