David Norris (Independent)

We do not give people in the public services half enough credit for what has been done. The household charge is the main issue I want to raise and I have a louder voice than any of the other Members so I can certainly shout anybody down if there is an interruption. The household charge will go into central funds just like car taxes, which should worry everybody. It should also worry people that we are expected to pay the charges on exactly the same day and we have not been given a clear undertaking that we will not have to pay the €3.1 billion that the Irish people do not owe.

I am not signing up to or advocating the fiscal compact treaty, as it is a downright lie. I do not believe in swearing to lies. It is completely mathematically impossible and the targets are unachievable. Our debt levels will get to 120% of GDP and everybody knows it is a farce; we will default but it will be called something else. We should have a little honesty about these issues.