Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment proposed by Senator O'Brien who raised a very serious issue in regard to health. No answer has been given by the Government in spite of the hand-wringing on television and radio Senator O'Brien referred to, on the part of the Labour Party in particular.

A very serious matter arises in Brussels, not only for the Taoiseach but for the entire country. Last June the Taoiseach referred to a "seismic change" in European policy. The Tánaiste and leader of the Labour Party, Deputy Gilmore, referred to a "game changer" for the country. We were led to believe that the deal on Spanish debt would change things forever for Ireland. There was peace in our time, such as Mr. Chamberlain brought from Munich. That is not the first time this happened. About a year ago, we heard from a 4 a.m. press conference in Brussels that the burden on the Irish people had been lifted. Unfortunately, nothing has happened. People do not mind if there is honest effort or if the Taoiseach is in Brussels doing his best. Everybody knows he is not personally responsible for the situation. What people do mind is having their expectations lifted but not delivered, and promises and statements made that are not accurate. For the Taoiseach it is a question of how much of the burden on our people would be lifted, not that it would be lifted.

Today the Taoiseach is again in Brussels. As I understand it, all he is looking for is a restatement of what was said in June. There has been a considerable lack of action by the Government in the intervening period. Momentum seems to have been lost. We are watching and waiting and it is not good enough. There has been tough talk at home, both in this Parliament and throughout the country, but the tough talk needs to take place in Brussels. Given the Taoiseach is there, we need to have a debate in this House to examine what is going on at European level, what the Government is doing in regard to the burden of bank debt, why the Taoiseach's statements of summer and October 2011 and last June, are not being implemented, what caused the Taoiseach to make those statements, what exactly is happening and what he is looking for now. What will be the end result for the people?