David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

-----is concerned with building expectations and hyping considered responses from our European leaders, the inevitable fallout and policies that are being put in place despite their not meeting the needs of Europe or the Irish people.

One month after the austerity treaty referendum, we are entering another period of negotiations that, as the Minister of State will accept, will see a shift in authority and sovereignty away from the people of this island. Sinn Féin contends that Ireland is giving power to unaccountable and unelected EU bureaucrats. Our negotiators' attitude has not changed and the focus of this and previous Governments has been on protecting the system of international capital above and beyond ordinary working people and their daily needs.