Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is a different narrative and it is that one third of our children are living in constant poverty, that inequality is rife, that half a million taxpayers have been forced to emigrate, that public money that should have been used to tackle the crisis in our hospitals, to rebuild public services, to house our citizens, to stimulate the economy and to create jobs, has been used instead to repay private bank debt. This unsustainable debt burden has been forced upon our people and is the single biggest cause of our economic misery.

It is not just an Irish problem; it is a European problem and it needs a European solution. There is nothing at all to lose if the Taoiseach endorses a European debt conference. In fact, it makes sense because there can only be gains. According to a Labour representative last night, the Tánaiste still believes that the proposal has merit. Will the Taoiseach raise this issue in his meetings next week with Presidents Tusk and Juncker?

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