Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

The Council meeting last week was essentially about saving Greece and protecting the euro. While that was not on the agenda, it dominated the meeting. For that reason it was probably a more important summit than we might think. Important principles were involved in the decisions taken, which I believe were the right decisions. Certainly the spectre hanging over the talks from the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, with regard to abandoning the euro or requiring some member states of the euro to leave and the International Monetary Fund to be the means of dealing with the financial problem, was not acceptable in terms of solidarity. I was delighted the end result was that all 16 member states of the euro stuck with their member state colleagues and an arrangement was hammered out that will maintain both that collegiality and the integrity of the euro. It was the right decision. Perhaps it should not have come to that but the result was right and fitting.

I raised this matter with the Taoiseach in the Dáil last week. Once this country is engaged in a matter of making financial commitments either at home or abroad, it should be discussed in the House in plenary session. The Taoiseach did make a financial commitment of €248 million in terms of underpinning a loan, if that was required, for the Greek bailout. That is something that is appropriate and pertinent to discussion in the House. When we know there are serious issues on which decisions must be made when the Taoiseach goes to Brussels, they should come up for debate in this House beforehand in order that the Opposition has an opportunity to express its view and that we are made aware whether a financial contribution might be elicited with regard to those forthcoming decisions. Perhaps the Taoiseach will take that on board.

We are happy with the manner in which the Minister for Foreign Affairs appears before the Joint Committee on European Affairs prior to a Council meeting. When he attends the following meeting he reports on what transpired. That is welcome but the real decisions are made by the Taoiseach and where there are substantial matters involving finance, we should be able to examine them. Perhaps something could be done-----

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