Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It is a case of Deputy Adams deliberately misinterpreting what I said this morning. I said I raised it at the Council meeting. I presented our case on the basis of the challenge that now faces the Irish people. Before the bailout, this country borrowed €63 billion at excessive interest rates in order to recapitalise the banks. It was the equivalent of 50% of our GDP. I made the point, as an example to other countries of what we face here, that we should be able to use the current facilities that are available under the EFSF and will be available under the ESM to get into a position where we can pay that off at lower interest rates over a longer period, with a very substantial saving for the Irish taxpayer.

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