Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)

The Deputy is trying to suggest that we are somehow enjoying the fact that we are in an IMF programme and that it ought to be the Government's objective to remain in an IMF programme, where we essentially do not have control over our economic destiny or the parameters of our annual budget. That is preposterous position to put forward.

The issue with Greece is not that it will not pay but simply that it cannot pay. We are in a different position. All the outside expert analysis which has examined the sustainability of Irish debt acknowledges that there are difficult challenges ahead and that it is not easy but equally acknowledges that we can continue on this course.

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