Michael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)

I believe it because it is not the first time she said it. Olli Rehn, European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, said Ireland's debts were manageable. I mention also Zoso Davies, a credit strategist with Barclay's Capital in Bloomberg Businessweek, Padhraic Garvey, head of investment in ING in Amsterdam, Anders Borg, the Swedish finance minister, Dan O'Brien, economics editor in The Irish Times, and Ian Huggard of Bloxham. I could go on but I suspect it would not make any difference to Deputy Burke's view.

It is time each of us grew up, accepted where we are at, endeavoured to resolve the issues collectively and accepted the financial parameters within which we must work in a truthful and responsible fashion. Whoever is in government in 2013, we will have achieved what we are setting out to do so that our debt is of manageable proportions.

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