Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I note the report from the IMF. The Deputy is only too well aware that frequent denials regarding the state of the country's economy were issued prior to the arrival of the IMF. The Government, which I lead, has been working assiduously with the IMF, the ECB and the European Commission - the troika - on the changes we consider to be important, both in the context of this country's interests and those of the European Union. As a public representative, I have made the point on many occasions that in the past large European countries stood by their smaller counterparts in the context of the overall political direction of the Union. Given the nature and make-up of the governments of quite a number of countries - namely, minority administrations, multi-party administrations and s on - there are obvious internal difficulties. There are no such difficulties in this country.

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