Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for her reply. I am glad to see that she remains consistent in this regard, in spite of repeated questions from myself and others throughout the course of the year. The problem is that the Tánaiste is also consistent.

One hears members of the Government refer to the Memorandum of Understanding. Some are set in stone and some are not. The agreement was made against the background of the necessary austerity that was required because of the interest rate that was struck at that time, but subsequently the interest rate has been reduced, not necessarily by design, by accident. The savings the State will make on foot of the interest rate reduction have been bandied about as €1 billion per annum. In the discussions of our finance spokesperson with the Troika, it was stated that any austerity measures should not impinge on the less well off or those most in need.

Meetings are taking place this week with the relevant authorities and the Troika. Could the Minister have asked those who are negotiating on our behalf to secure a condition from the Troika that due to the savings, there is wriggle room for the Minister to honour the commitments that she and her partners in Government made?

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