Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I remind Deputy Martin, who was on this side of the House a short time ago, that there were six dysfunctional banks in this country, complete confusion from day to day and from week to week, and that the Government would not even admit to the people that the IMF had landed here. Obviously, a deal was done between the IMF-ECB-EU, the consequences of which we must now deal with.

The Deputy will be aware that it was decided at the Heads of Government meeting that the Ministers of Finance should deal first with the bank stress tests results before pursuing the question of interests rate reductions. From that point of view, while the next charge in respect of interest is not due until October-November, this matter will be pursued by the Ministers for Finance. It is always referred to at other meetings. Several heads of Government were in contact at the last meeting about arranging bilateral meetings and I am pursuing that. I will advise the House of them as soon as the arrangements are finalised. There will be a meeting with the British Prime Minister next week.

See this speech in context