Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Once again Greece was a focus in the most recent European Council meeting. Although, as the Taoiseach acknowledged, the issue was not officially on the agenda because of the refusal of some countries to formally discuss the matter, an important side meeting dealt with it. The Greek Prime Minister, Mr. Alexis Tsipras, briefed French and German leaders about the humanitarian crisis in Greece. He made it clear he wants to establish common ground in tackling this humanitarian crisis. He is also dissatisfied that officials from the creditor institutions have reportedly drawn red lines which are preventing Athens from making progress. It is clear that Mr. Tsipras is concerned that the ECB is attempting to strangle the Greek economy and handcuff the Government.

Greece's debt is completely unsustainable. So was ours, but instead of focusing on how to tackle Greece's debt and the humanitarian crisis the EU institutions are attempting to force the Greek Government to impose austerity. The ECB is not acting as a lender of last resort as it should. Instead, it is imposing restrictions which prevent Athens issuing more short-term debt to tide itself over.

This State and Greece have both had unfair debt burdens imposed their citizens, in our case with the compliance of our Government. Instead of standing with the Greek Government in its attempts to tackle its humanitarian crisis the Taoiseach has consistently taken the side of the European elite and the ECB against the people of Greece. He has moved from being an architect of austerity in our own island to being an adviser on how it can be imposed on other European states.

The Taoiseach said he told Prime Minister Tsipras that he worked with the institutions to ensure his programme was aligned with the policies of his Government, but did he tell him that he was elected to implement totally different policies? Did he tell him that he was elected with a mandate which is significantly different from the policies he is now imposing upon people here? Prime Minister Tsipras is acting on the basis of the mandate he received.

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