Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Deputy Martin tabled three questions in this group. The first pertains to details of the proposed text on the interest rate for Ireland circulated by President Van Rompuy. The second relates to bilateral meetings and the third concerns the European Central Bank. I have dealt with each of those three questions in my reply. The Deputy is aware of what happens at such meetings, at which a variety of wordings may be presented to individual leaders, depending on the issue. However, this range of wordings may not have been circulated to, or approved or agreed by, others. The position is that no formal text purporting to be the proposition being put to Ireland was circulated to everyone. Ireland was asked to increase its corporation tax rate. This condition was being requested if Ireland was to be granted a reduction in the interest rate that had been agreed by the leaders. I refused to do that and made that clear. Because I took that stand in respect of our country, which is supported by the Deputy, agreement was not forthcoming on the interest rate reduction. As a consequence, the matter is still being discussed and I hope it can be brought to a conclusion. It is not a case of an agenda containing a formal text to be debated in respect of Ireland. As the Deputy is aware, such items could comprise a variety of options being presented that were not presented to the body as a whole or agreed by individual leaders. I hope this response deals with that matter for the Deputy. I have referred to the bilateral meetings with other Heads of Government and as I stated, the ECOFIN Ministers have recommended that Mr. Draghi should take up office in the European Central Bank in November 2011.

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