httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U24mO_UClJE&feature=player_embedded
Joe Higgins: “Taoiseach, only six short Hibernian nights and days ago, since the formation of your Government and it is already guilty of monumental betrayal of its promise of honesty in government to the Irish people.”
[Brendan Howlin: “He could have waited a week.”]
[Alan Shatter: “Do not exaggerate.”]
Joe Higgins: “Your programme for government promised burden-sharing, that the gambling bondholders in the Irish banks would carry at least some of the massive losses that they incurred and which are now being foisted on the Irish people. But your Minister for Finance said yesterday we are no longer pursuing this option. In other words the economic lifeblood of our people is to continue to be poured for all the bad gambling debts of the speculators.
“What happened, Taoiseach? What has changed? Did big sister, Chancellor Merkel, order you to drop this demand at the meeting of EU leaders? What were you told at that about this particular demand? We need clear answers.
“And what has changed with your Labour Party colleagues? Only three weeks ago they were lining up the tanks to roll on Frankfurt [laughter] to insist on terms with the ECB against the pressure of speculators. Now it seems the tanks will not get any further than the local social welfare office to shake down the unemployed and the poor to pay off the very same speculators. What happened? Let’s have a clear and honest answer.
Enda Kenny: “Well, you’re welcome back, Deputy Higgins. In your absence there is no difference between a day in Hibernia and a day anywhere else. It’s 144 hours since the government, as you say, six Hibernian days and nights ago, took up office. Maybe if you hadn’t been sent away to Europe by the voters on the last occasion, you might have found out what happened. I would like to know myself actually and you may have a word with the former Minister for Finance when you leave the chamber, perhaps to find out what exactly did happen. As you know, there is to be a parliamentary inquiry – with which, no doubt, you will assist – to determine what came about here.”
This could literally run and run.