Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Deputy raises several issues. The question of jobs is central to the development and strengthening of the economies of both Ireland and Great Britain. In that context, the Deputy will be aware the British Prime Minister circulated a document at the Heads of Government meeting on the development of the Internal Market and the capacity of Europe to perform much better and more strongly in the area of job creation, whether in respect of competitiveness, the cutting out of red tape, bureaucracy and duplication, the cost of setting up businesses and the potential for further trading relationships between our two islands and internally within the European countries.

What was not at issue when we raised this previously was the specific question of a reduction in the interest rate on the British bilateral loan to Ireland. This was not an issue to be discussed and, while some media reports indicated it would become a central issue, it did not.

I agree and recognise, of course, that my predecessor, former Deputy Brian Cowen, was supportive of the invitation being extended by President McAleese to Queen Elizabeth. I agree that the people of Ireland responded magnificently in terms of their dignity, understanding and warmth of reception throughout the past week in respect of the visit of the Queen, the funeral of the late, lamented Deputy Garret FitzGerald and yesterday's occasion of the visit of the US President. I also agree that the agencies and bodies associated with these events did a remarkable job in very constrained circumstances regarding time and the pressure arising from one issue or another.

Those who tried to shame our nation with their activities leave a lot to be desired. The vast majority of the Irish people would make one feel proud to be from this country and stood up for our country in the way we would expect them to do. Protest is legitimate in any democracy and that protest should be peaceful. However, the actions of those who try to disrupt or carry out other activities leave a lot to be desired in respect of their Irishness. Everybody is entitled to engage in peaceful protest but not in the way some intended to do.

Individual Ministers will contact the agencies and organisations which played such an important part in the visit of the Queen, whether the local authorities, the Office of Public Works, the Department of Finance, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Garda Síochána, the Army, the Civil Defence or the health agencies, including ambulance personnel and so on. From that point of view, everybody played their part and did a remarkable job. I commend them fully for that.

The question of the vacancy that now exists in the IMF was not discussed in any detail at the meeting with Prime Minister Cameron. This is a global position and, as the Deputy is aware, it has been held by a European candidate for some time. While it appears there is a strengthening position behind one candidate, that is not absolutely clear yet. A candidate from Turkey was nominated, or was at least mentioned as being a candidate for nomination, but withdrew. Whether it ends with Christine Lagarde being the only candidate, I cannot yet say, but the matter was not discussed in any detail at our meeting.

In respect of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings, as I undertook to the House, I raised this matter with the British Prime Minister, having raised it in London at the previous meeting. We are both of the view that the truth is absolutely essential in all of these cases. The Prime Minister himself raised the question of the inquiry into the Pat Finucane case. There is a recognition that what we do not want is to end up with a whole series of public inquiries. We need to examine how we might deal with this. There were some comments from Deputy Adams last week in respect of other incidents where information might be made available.

Mr. Justice Barron and Mr. McEntee SC went into this in considerable detail. The British Government is of the opinion the information it supplied is all the relevant information it intends to supply.

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