Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I thank the Minister for her clarity. I spent months, including up to today, trying to get that clarity from the Taoiseach. When I asked him earlier if the Government will be seeking a write-down of Irish banking debt at today's summit he did not answer me. The Minister of State has just said it is not on the table. That is the flaw in the Government's position.

I draw the Minister of State's attention to the fact that the Taoiseach, in response to a question from me here some weeks ago, stated that he was against further fiscal powers being centralised in Europe. He stated on two occasions that he was opposed to treaty change. Today he stated: "We recognised also that there is scope to do more to improve fiscal discipline and to deepen economic integration in Europe, particularly within the euro area ...". He went on to state: We have now agreed that we need to reflect further on how to strengthen economic convergence within the euro area, how to improve fiscal discipline and how to deepen our economic union. All of that is a complete U-turn in terms of his previously stated position. I agree with the Teachta ansin who said the Government is making its negotiating position very clear, and the Taoiseach did that again at length here.

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