Shadow Treasury minister Chris Leslie argued that Ireland's problems illustrated the dangers of a "one-track economic strategy built around austerity alone".
This approach was championed by the business theorist Chris Argyris, who argued that simply creating debate is of uncertain use when the issues involved are potentially threatening or embarrassing to the participants.
Lawyers argued that because Chris Bowen, Australia's immigration minister, could not guarantee their protection, he had no power under Australia's Migration Act to send them to Malaysia.