Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Yes. I raised the matter yesterday and last week. Without question, the euro crisis is the most grave crisis facing not only this country but the European Union and the European monetary system. It is extraordinary that in this House we are giving so little time to proper debate and questions in regard to the most fundamental issues now facing the euro currency. I find it extraordinary that over the past month we have had precious little time for this, even in terms of debating the outcome of the July summit. It would have been normal for the Taoiseach to have reported on it to the House at this stage. The forthcoming October summit will clearly be the key summit in terms of the Greek crisis, the Italian downgrade and international questions raised about the eurozone itself.

Yesterday I asked if the Taoiseach would be taking questions on this subject today. I may have picked it up wrong but I understood he said he would participate in the debate. However, I note from the Order of Business that questions will be taken by the Minister. I realise the Taoiseach has taken a very hands-off approach to the entire issue, given his failure to meet eurozone leaders and so on. The Taoiseach should take questions today at the end of the debate. I ask him to do so, given the gravity of what is before us. It is the leaders of Europe who will have to deal with this in the forthcoming summit in a comprehensive and resolute way, something they have not done to date. There has been a fundamental failure of vision and leadership at the top of the European Union. There is an obligation on the Taoiseach to come before the House, answer questions and give the Government's approach to the forthcoming summit and to the current euro crisis.

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