Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I commend George Mitchell for the work he did in this country. He was an outstanding person and was appointed by former President Clinton to come here. He spent six months in Northern Ireland and had little opportunity to play his part at the beginning, but his influence, personality and patience won through in the end. He is a person of the highest standards for whom I have absolute regard. I wish him, his wife and his young family success and good health in the years ahead. He made a remarkable contribution to the peace process here and we all owe him a debt of gratitude in respect of his behaviour, which as a negotiator in very difficult circumstances was outstanding.

I briefed President Obama on our decisions in respect of the banking structure, the governance of the banks and our relations with the troika. In that context, I would have indicated to him our decision in respect of subordinated bondholders and how that had evolved in Europe from a point when that was not going happen to now where it is an accepted part of dealing with the particular problem.

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