There was uproar in the Dail today as Donegal Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty was accused of espousing ‘fairytale’ economic policies.
The comment came from Tanaiste Eamonn Gilmore who was taking leaders questions in the house.
Deputy Doherty attacked the Government’s austerity policies, claiming: “What is happening in Greece is symptomatic of the austerity measures.
“People know that austerity isn’t working. We need investment and stimulus. What you want to do is to sell off state assets and cut 7.2bn over the time of this Government. People need investment in jobs.”
There was rowdy heckling of the Donegal TD from the Fine Gael and Labour benches throughout his speech.
“Minister Noonan would be better talking about the real economy instead of soundbites,” claimed Doherty.
But the Tanaiste – who was himself heckled from the Opposition benches when he spoke – hit back.
“What is happening in Greece is what would happen here if we followed the fairytale economics of Sinn Fein,” he said.
At one point Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett told one TD during the uproar: “Why don’t you take a pill?”
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