Mr. Marco Buti:

We had intensive discussions in the context of the regular contacts that we have with the Irish authorities at all levels: central banks, the Finance Minister, ministries, the Irish Government. I think at that time the situation was such that the ... it was inevitable I think for Ireland to apply. I have to say that one thing that ... one question that may come is, which may be implicit in your question, is that: was it right for European institutions to have a view on this or not or should it be left completely to the Irish Government, in this case, or to a national government? I think the experience at the time was very clear that, given the potentially dramatic spillover effect and contagion risks, I think we had the right and the duty to have a view on this. And actually, if you look at the ex poston the two-pack regulation, the one dealing with the financial ... with financial assistance, there is the provision there that the Commission can recommend the Council to advise a country to prepare an adjustment programme. It doesn’t mean applying for the EU ... full EU-IMF programme but in a situation of dire straits, certainly that is something that goes in that direction. So I think it was our duty to have a view and at the time I think it was ... we considered it to be right for the Irish authorities to make that decision.