Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure we agree with the Order of Business. It is proposed to complete the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill by taking Committee Stage today and Report and Final Stages this evening. I do not believe that schedule is in the best interests of finalising the debate. The legislation should be included in tomorrow's business.

I want to raise an issue with the Leader that has dominated the media for the past 24 hours - the refusal by Mario Draghi, President of the ECB, to come before the banking inquiry which starts today. This is an inherent weakness in the deliberations of the banking inquiry which has already generated enormous controversy about the political motives behind its setting up by the Government. Many people feel the inquiry will be a witch hunt against Fianna Fáil and very little else will emerge. The process is completely flawed if the person who represents the European institution which is to blame for this country incurring €65 billion in bank debt refuses to attend. The Irish Government should adopt some method to change this situation. I am echoing here the sentiments expressed this morning by a Minister of the Government, Deputy Coveney. He said the institution should be compelled before the inquiry. To suggest that the European Central Bank, on which we sit through the representation of Professor Honohan, is answerable only to the European Parliament and not to a national parliament is, in my opinion, a national insult. It is yet a further indication of how far European institutions have become disconnected from the ordinary people of Europe.

The ECB is a powerful institution which continues to have a very important and significant impact on the lives of every citizen in this country. The ECB, under Mr. Draghi's predecessor, Mr. Trichet, forced this country and its Government into incurring a debt that will hang around the Irish people for the next couple of decades. I call on the Government to issue a very stern response to Mr. Draghi's intransigence and convey to him that his refusal is completely and totally unacceptable. I ask the Taoiseach to come here today to explain exactly what the Government's response will be to Mr. Draghi.

I also ask that the Taoiseach will come here to make a statement on the growing and developing crisis in Northern Ireland. He and the Prime Minister, Mr. Cameron, came, looked, saw and left Northern Ireland last week. I was bitterly disappointed with the Taoiseach's rapid departure from these important talks. He seems to have gone to Belfast for a photo opportunity with Mr. Cameron and then left. We have a frail peace process but he has left Northern Ireland in limbo. I have questioned on repeated occasions in this House the Government's commitment to engaging in Northern Ireland issues. It is as if they are up there and we are down here, which is totally unacceptable.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that the Taoiseach come before this House today to address those twin issues which are of vital importance, not only to this economy but in the context of what is or is not happening in Northern Ireland. This matter is of vital importance to the national economy and to the island economy.