Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 32: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will report on his meeting with European Central Bank President Mario Draghi in Frankfurt last week; if he will report on discussions on the fiscal compact treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5578/12]

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of the contacts he has had with Mr Mario Draghi since his appointment as President of the European Central Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4757/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 56 together.

I had my first scheduled meeting with Mr. Draghi, the President of the European Central Bank on Tuesday 24th January in Frankfurt. I have also met Mr. Draghi on the margins of Eurogroup and Ecofin meetings since his appointment last November.

At the meeting of 24th January last, I had a good discussion with Mr. Draghi on a number of issues, including on the excellent progress on the implementation of our EU/IMF Programme and on measures to help strengthen our Programme which would also assist our return to the markets. In relation to the latter, work at a technical level is currently underway with members of the Troika.

On the 28th November 2011, a letter was furnished to Mr. Draghi, signed by myself and the Governor of the Central Bank, regarding the delivery of the agreed targets under the Troika programme.

In addition, on the 8th November 2011, I received correspondence from Mr. Draghi in relation to the ECB's Opinion on the extension of the Eligible Liabilities Guarantee Scheme and on the 8th December I received a copy of a letter from Mr. Draghi to the President of the ECOFIN, on the Opinion of the ECB Governing Council on a Council recommendation on the appointment of a Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank.

I also met Commission Vice-President Rehn last week when in Brussels. As the Deputy is aware, I and other members of the Government make sure to take advantage of any appropriate opportunities to pursue contacts with Member States and with key partners such as the European Commission. Commission Vice-President Rehn and I discussed the Irish EU-IMF programme in the light of the recent visit of the Troika to Dublin, at which it was confirmed that Ireland's programme was on track. This assessment was endorsed by eurozone Heads of State and Government this week, whose communication welcomed the positive review of Ireland's programme.

I discussed the Fiscal Compact Commission with Vice-President Rehn, which as the Deputy and the House is aware was agreed on Monday night in the form of an Intergovernmental Treaty among twenty-five member states of the European Union. The situation now is that the text of the Treaty will be prepared for signature and subsequent ratification by each of the participants.