Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I note the Taoiseach has grouped Questions Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive. I tabled four questions and if they were answered separately, I would be entitled to 24 minutes under Standing Orders. I would appreciate an opportunity to ask some additional supplementary questions because there is quite a range of questions here. The Ceann Comhairle has no power to persuade the Taoiseach to answer the questions he is asked or to stop him grouping ten questions together. The only way we can get a specific responses is to ask supplementary questions relating to the questions we have tabled.

The Taoiseach will agree that before the election he explicitly said that he would use his position as vice-president of the EPP to help persuade our European partners to change the terms of our financing. He said his meeting with Chancellor Merkel in Berlin was only the first step in a major diplomatic offensive which he would lead.

It is very clear from the Taoiseach's reply that he has abandoned such a diplomatic initiative and he needs to explain why. After three months in office, to have met only one leader who has been involved in deciding the terms of our financing is incredible and to have failed to raise the topic in that meeting is amazing. The Taoiseach would not ask the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, about a lower interest rate nor would he ask the US President, Barack Obama, about the vetoing of the burning of bondholders. He has not really met anybody else on a substantive bilateral basis in regard to a reduction in the interest rate and more sustainable terms for Ireland.

Will the Taoiseach abandon his policy of simply delegating negotiations to the Minister for Finance? Our interest rate is not even on the agenda of the ECOFIN or the eurozone meetings early next week. Any change requires the Taoiseach's personal involvement. He confirmed to me when he took office that the eurozone leaders had already agreed the 11 March communiqué about improving the terms of the financing. Three months later, we have halved our demand and have seen it slide off the agenda. Will the Taoiseach explain his strategy from here on in?

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