Gilmore: We can't hand over our destiny to financial markets

on 12/10/2012 10:24:40

The Tánaiste says the lesson to be learned from the financial crisis is that our destiny should not be handed over to financial markets.

Eamon Gilmore addressed a gathering of centre-left political leaders from across Europe at a conference in Dublin this morning.

He says recent successes in elections in France and the Netherlands show that socialists are convincing people they have the answers and the "mettle for difficult decisions".

Gilmore also says fiscal discipline is not the preserve of centre right parties.

"If we believe in having good public services, want good schools and hospitals, want to seek growth in our economies and create more and better jobs, then we cannot hand over our destiny to financial markets.

"As Ireland's recent history shows, if you don't control your public finances then you don't control your destiny."