Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

No, I was not consulted by Chancellor Merkel or President Sarkozy, nor was I consulted by them when they decided to meet either in Frankfurt or in Paris; as leaders of their respective countries they are entitled to do so if they wish. The Lisbon treaty allows for an opt out by an individual country if it wishes to leave, but it is a hell of a different prospect if one signs on for certain conditions in respect of a bailout involving €8 billion and the principal payers feel very aggrieved if one does not measure up. It is a case of stating the tranche of money will not be paid unless one adheres to the conditions which one already agreed. This is where the emphasis is. So far as continued membership of the European Union is concerned the situation is set out very clearly in the Lisbon treaty.

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