Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. It was telling and will, sadly, be reflected in the media debate in the run-up to the budget. Certain serious debates take place and they are held among the people who accept the fiscal rules, which we alone reject. As such, the debate will be about the different ways we can operate inside the fiscal rules. After the banking crash, Nyberg pointed rightly to the need to challenge the cosy consensus and to listen to contrarians. Of course, we are back to not listening to contrarians and failing to take seriously the points they are making. I issue that as a serious warning. The Minister might not agree with us, but he should listen to some of the points we are making.

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