Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I am surprised at the Deputy. He knows that he is speaking about the difference between chalk and cheese because these are two very different situations. I sympathise with the Greek people in their difficulties. I spoke with the Greek Prime Minister in a face-to-face meeting at which he explained the difficulties that his country was beginning to experience and asked for support in respect of his request for an interest rate reduction. The national debt had doubled in a very short period, the banks were looking for €100 billion and his people were beginning to react strongly. However, the Greek situation is very different from that which applies in Ireland's case. We have already met the quarterly review analysis and have received approval in respect of meeting our conditions and commitments. The Deputy should focus on where we stand as a consequence of entering the IMF-EU bailout deal. We want to return to a position where Ireland has full control over its economic sovereignty in the shortest possible time. The details of the conditions of our participation in the IMF-EU deal are set out and published and are now being complied with in respect of Ireland and the Irish people. It does not involve the scale of issues to which the Deputy referred.

We have to continue building on the trade surplus we enjoy because of our strong exports. Interest in investing in Ireland remains exceptionally strong and American industry, for example, has considerable liquidity available to it for continued investment. That is the reason our 12.5% tax rate continues to be a matter of fundamental importance and why it is necessary for us to rebuild our international reputation for the flexibility of our workforce and our proven entry record to the European Union. We also need to develop our own indigenous industries and pursue the opportunities that exist for employment creation.

These are very different situations. Ireland cannot be compared to any other country facing a bailout and it should not be compared to other countries in that regard. Each of the governments concerned is grappling with its own particular problems and the Irish Government has made decisions that will point our country in the direction of being able to comply with the conditions of the IMF-EU bailout and allow us to remove ourselves from the deal in the shortest possible time, an objective to which I am sure the Deputy also aspires.

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