Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senator Craughwell. As the Leader will be aware, we have repeatedly raised this issue since the time of the original debate with the Minister, Deputy Burton, in 2012. Her comments at that time will haunt her and her party into the general election. She said she would be opposed to introducing this measure until there was a Scandinavian model of child care in this country. She has not resiled from that statement nor has she made any comments about it since then. Obviously, she felt strongly enough about it at the time to put it on record that she was opposed to the introduction of this measure and yet she has been spinning justification for it ever since. Like Senator Craughwell, I and other Members have been receiving plaintive e-mails from lone parents who will be significantly affected by this measure.

I am somewhat concerned that Ireland would not be seen to be beating the Greeks over the head over what is happening. I appreciate that the idea of their debt and a write-down of it would be anathema to this Government and many people in this country would feel the same, considering that the European Commission and the European Union left us swinging in the wind with our own debt. However, it is not in anybody's interests, and certainly not in the interests of the European Union, that Greece should exit the euro. I hope wise heads will prevail and that Greece will come back to the negotiating table. I also hope the sympathy and empathy many Irish people have for the Greek people will be highlighted.