David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

I agree with the previous speakers that raised the issue of the leaked documents discussed at the meeting of the German finance committee. The Dáil and the Seanad are being treated with contempt and being usurped by the people that leak the documents. Such behaviour is unacceptable. Wherever we might find ourselves in terms of the argument on the fiscal compact treaty, it is disgraceful that our finance committee did not have sight of those documents which referred to a number of important things that could impact on the country. The documents raised the possibility of a mini-budget and that, following discussions with the troika, the figure for the sale of assets increased from €2 billion to €3 billion.

German parliamentarians are debating all of these issues. They have full knowledge of what is happening in the discussions on Ireland's financial affairs. However, parliamentarians here are not being given the same opportunity. Regardless of our various stances on the fiscal compact treaty, let us all agree that the leaking of these documents and the provision of information that is of vital importance to Ireland should, in the first instance, be discussed in this Parliament before it is the subject of debate elsewhere. People are angry about austerity measures, about the fact that we do not have power over our own fiscal affairs and our loss of sovereignty. We all want to work together to assuage that anger and regain our sovereignty. However, when the German Parliament rubs our faces in it by discussing these matters when we have not had the opportunity to do so, it is an embarrassment for the country.