Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The interest rate reduction was agreed at the eurozone meeting in Helsinki in respect of countries that are in the EFSF package. That interest rate reduction was extended to Greece, which is not in the EFSF package. The agreement reached in Helsinki by the eurozone leaders was that countries within the EFSF could have their interest rates reduced. Conditionalities for the interest rate reduction were applied to Ireland, but I was not prepared to accept them.

The euro pact is outside the treaties and our political discussions about how to strengthen the euro dealt with qualifications across, competitiveness, dealing with pension problems and so on. From that point of view, there was a general consensus about the "euro plus pact" and countries outside the eurozone were invited to join it on a voluntary basis. Some of them did so. I already mentioned this on the report before the European Council meeting. We will continue with the tradition that applied heretofore of reporting to the House on the consequences and the aftermath of each European Council meeting. The Deputy will appreciate that I have committed myself to coming to the House in advance of such meetings, which is a break with tradition, to allow all Deputies to have their say about European issues of interest to them.

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