Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Aontaím leis an Seanadóir Ó Clochartaigh maidir le 2013 - Bliain na Gaeilge. Caithfimid uilig ár gcúpla focal a úsáid. Ba mhaith liom, ar mo shon féin, mo chomhbhrón a ghabháil leis an Seanadóir Deirdre Clune agus a clann ar bhás a máthair. Ba mhaith liom chomhbhrón a ghabháil freisin le clann Shane McEntee ar a bhás. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Freisin, maidir leis an méid atá ráite ag an Seanadóir Ó Murchú - I have to say this in English because some people do not have their headphones on. In addition to what Senator Ó Murchú said about positivity and good news, we must include honesty. If we are honest as politicians people will have much more respect for us. I would like to bring the positive news that nobody has mentioned today about a significant decision made by the Eurogroup last night, in respect of the European element of the EU-IMF programme and the ¤85 billion bailout bill that this country has to foot.

We are all honest and we are all in this. Not all of the country was to blame but the Government and everyone else had a role. I was part of another party at the time, Fianna Fáil. The ¤85 billion bailout is being corrected by this Government. Only because it is being corrected could this positive decision be taken at EU level. It is only because of the commitments signed up to by the previous Government on the EU-IMF programme and being carried forward by this Government that we will now make savings. One economist put the figure at ¤400 million per year and ¤4 billion over the ten years. Only in this way will the country save and then be able to get back to paying nurses, and everyone else, their due salaries.