Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

We have heard many times from the Government that everyone must share the pain to allow the country to move forward. While those in receipt of social welfare, the elderly and young children in classrooms must share the pain, it is clear from the deal the Government has done with the International Monetary Fund and other partners that bondholders will not share the pain. People are furious that bondholders will not share the pain while everyone else is being asked to do so. That is the outcome of the negotiations which the Government has concluded. People are also concerned about the raiding of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and the interest rate associated with the bailout. The euro continues to face critical problems which will have to be addressed. It appears Ireland is paying a heavier price than it should pay as a result of the decisions taken in recent days.

Parliamentary democracy was abandoned during the negotiations on the deal. Why will the deal not be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas? Why was so little information made available to the parliamentary process, namely, the Dáil and Seanad? The deal will not be put to a vote in the Dáil. I move an amendment to the Order of Business that the House debate it today to give Senators an opportunity to put forward our views.

The abandonment of parliamentary democracy is a continuation of what has been clear for a long time. This side has consistently raised the fact that much negotiation takes place and many announcements are made outside the House. We have seen this occur again in recent days and weeks. How can people have respect for politics when the Government shows so little respect for our political institutions? We must restore respect for politics. Surely, therefore, discussing the IMF-ECB deal in the Houses and having the Government provide more information is the correct approach? We are receiving more information from the Governor of the Central Bank and the European negotiators than from the Government. I call on the Government to provide much more information to members of the public, the media and the Houses.