Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)

I join the Taoiseach and other leaders in offering my sympathy on the tragic deaths of the member of the Garda and the Filipino national today.

One of this morning's newspapers used an unfortunate turn of phrase. I believe it was The Irish Times, which talked about the Italian Prime Minister getting a dressing down from the German Chancellor and the French President. It is important to ask the Taoiseach questions about burning bondholders and Irish default. However, the Taoiseach put his finger on the issue. Greece is not now the only problem in Europe. The game has moved on to Italy, which is a much more serious potential problem. Yesterday, Chancellor Merkel and President Sarkozy confronted the Italian Prime Minister and told him it was time for him to introduce far more stringent austerity measures. That is undoubtedly true. The Italian austerity measures are unsatisfactory.

Where does Ireland stand on the great quarrels that are going on among the European leaders? It is obvious there is a huge split given the Italian Prime Minister's robust response to France and Germany that he will not take dictation from them. Where does Ireland stand on the need for austerity in Italy? Where does it stand on the split between Prime Minister Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel in regard to how much pain should be taken by those who invested in Greece?

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