Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

As the Taoiseach knows well, but refuses to admit because it would undermine one of his favourite attack lines, the interest rate on Ireland's support package was a fixed figure and not open to negotiation. In subsequent discussions, our partners agreed to reopen the issue. This culminated in the February agreement, formally ratified on 11 March, that our interest rate should be reduced in order to ensure debt sustainability. The need for interest rate reduction was no longer for negotiation, just the timing.

In order to avoid answering any direct questions about his handling of the matter, the Taoiseach keeps patting himself on the back for holding a line on corporation tax which has been maintained by every Taoiseach and every Minister over decades. It has now emerged that President Van Rompuy tabled a text on 11 March which our Taoiseach rejected, in spite of general agreement that it posed no real threat to our corporation tax rate. It is about time that this text was published so that people can make up their own minds about this matter.

See this speech in context