Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The bank bondholder debt is a fundamental issue. Did the Taoiseach specifically raise that with the President, particularly given the commentary around the Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Geithner, and his alleged intervention at the G8, in terms of clarifying - if that is the case - that there was to be no burning of bondholders or no substantive restructuring? This is important in terms of any potential pan-European restructuring of debt that could be agreed eventually at that level, which is something that must happen. We need a pan-European approach to be taken more quickly than is happening. I am surprised the Taoiseach did not ask President Obama what the US perspective on the issue of bondholder debt was. Does it have a position on it? The US would have influence in terms of the IMF, which is a key partner with the institutions in terms of the deal with Ireland. Did the Taoiseach raise the issue with the President?

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