Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3 together.

I was happy to welcome President Buzek to Government Buildings for a breakfast meeting last Tuesday, 12 July. Ireland is a strong supporter of the European Parliament and has many friends there. Our people have served in the parliament at its highest levels and our MEPs make an important contribution to its work.

We had a good discussion of some of the most important issues facing the Union, including the economic situation and the future of the Union's budget. I told President Buzek that Ireland is greatly looking forward to its seventh EU Presidency in the first half of 2013. Preparations are now well under way. We had a very good discussion on how the rotating presidency is working since the coming into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, and the extension in the number of areas to which co-decision applies.

I made it clear to the president that I will be stressing to all my Cabinet colleagues the importance of building good relations with the European Parliament, especially in the committees, in the period ahead. We want to do a good job for Ireland and for Europe.

We also touched on the technical process needed to give effect to the "Irish Protocol" secured ahead of the second referendum on Lisbon and I asked for the president's assistance in making this as speedy and straightforward a process as possible.

I advised the House last week of the outcome of the meeting of Eurogroup Finance Ministers that took place on Monday, 11 July. Ministers reaffirmed their absolute commitment to safeguard financial stability in the euro area. This includes standing ready to adopt further measures that will improve the euro area's systemic capacity to resist contagion risk.

Ministers also tasked the Eurogroup working group with proposing measures to reinforce the current policy response to the crisis in Greece. This reinforced strategy is intended to provide the basis for an agreement in the Eurogroup on the main elements and financing of a second adjustment programme for Greece.

The Council of Finance Ministers also reviewed on Tuesday, 12 July, the availability and soundness of the backstop measures in place to address decisively any remaining pockets of vulnerability in the EU banking sector. This was ahead of publication on Friday last, 15 July, of this year's bank stress test results overseen by the European Banking Authority. President Van Rompuy has, in light of these developments, convened a meeting of the eurozone Heads of State or Government in Brussels this Thursday, 21 July. The agenda will be the financial stability of the euro area as a whole and the future financing of the Greek programme. Officials are currently working on the proposals that will be tabled at the meeting. My priority will be to ensure an outcome with positive implications for Ireland.

It will also be important for leaders to deliver a credible, workable and durable solution. In this regard, I would like to see the outcome providing us with the maximum range of options and flexibility to be deployed as future events unfold.

It is now very clear that what has been perceived by some as a set of problems affecting just a few peripheral countries is, in fact, systemic, affecting the euro area as a whole. We need an outcome that offers certainty and security for the future.

We have maintained close contact with our European partners, in both capitals and institutions, during the period since the June European Council. I look forward to meeting again with colleagues this Thursday.

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