Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Arising from the Taoiseach's reply to Question No. 3, I find it incredible there has been no substantive bilateral meeting or discussion with President Sarkozy on better settlement terms for Ireland. The Taoiseach has acknowledged that in February all EU Governments agreed the need to improve conditions attaching to financial support for Ireland and other countries. This was formalised on 11 March with the expectation that matters would be finalised within weeks. It was stated by officials from the Taoiseach's office that he was leading a major diplomatic initiative in relation to the conditions attaching to European Union funding. This was said on the morning of the Taoiseach's only bilateral meeting with an EU leader involved in providing funding.

The Taoiseach made clear on a number of occasions during the past two weeks that a lower interest rate is being held up by the personal veto of President Sarkozy. Brief encounters at the side of noisy Council meetings do not constitute substantive bilateral engagement. Given, by the Taoiseach's own admission, that this matter is being held up by the personal veto of President Sarkozy, perhaps he will explain why he has not gone to Paris over the past three months for a substantive bilateral meeting with President Sarkozy to sort out the issues. Part of the reason may involve the Taoiseach having to explain why his staff went out to hype up the dispute at the meeting on 11 March. However, that can be got over very quickly.

If it is the case, despite agreement of all Heads of State on 11 March, that President Sarkozy has vetoed the reduction in interest rates, as the Taoiseach said he has, the only issue then is why the Taoiseach has not met with him. I find it extraordinary that the Taoiseach has not even had a telephone conversation with President Sarkozy on this matter and that his contact amounts only to meeting him at summit meetings. We all know what happens at those meetings, namely, there is back stabbing and shaking hands on the margins. That does not constitute a substantive bilateral meeting. Given all that has happened and the prioritisation of the debt reduction, I find it extraordinary that the Taoiseach has not had a substantive meeting with President Sarkozy. The Minister for Finance is not in a position to negotiate with President Sarkozy, the man the Taoiseach says is holding up the reduction in the interest rate. Will the Taoiseach agree that he should now initiate substantive talks with President Sarkozy on the settlement terms for Ireland?

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