Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I asked the first two questions on this issue. Specifically, I asked whether the Taoiseach asked the Deputy Prime Minister for a reduction in the interest rate on the bilateral loan. The Taoiseach's response initially was that he referred to the issue. Then he stated that he indicated to him our desire for the reduction. With the greatest of respect, that is verbiage. On decoding, it suggests an absence of this issue at centre stage in the bilateral discussions with Mr. Clegg. The same situation applies with Prime Minister Cameron. The issue was not raised in the context of a submission to the British Government to the effect that we seek the terms and conditions applying to the bilateral loan reduced in accordance with the decision of the EU Heads of State on 11 March. The point is that were the terms of the bilateral loan changed or improved, it would have a powerful impact on the rest of the debate across Europe and would be a useful and powerful signal. I note the apparent absence of either a capacity or desire to raise the hard questions with people. I already raised in this Chamber the absolute refusal of a number of Ministers, including the Taoiseach-----

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