Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

We have dealt with the troika very effectively. We are part of the Union and the eurozone and, as such, are a respected member. Due to the openness and trust engendered between Ministers and the troika, as the Deputy is aware, quite a number of changes to the original memorandum of understanding have been brought about in the interests of the Government's programme for Government and the Irish taxpayer and Irish citizen.

The issue of the structural balance is one that has been at the centre of quite a deal of discussion over the past period. I am happy now with the transparency that is in here and with the requirement to have a structure that will deal with that in respect of each individual country. It is fair to say that we agree with fiscal discipline and better governance. From that point of view, there have been some further discussions and progress has been made at the technical level in regard to the issue of sanctions, where the European Court of Justice would be the determining body over whether a country was out of line but where the Commission should be the implementing body, which would root it in the legal requirement of the European Union treaties, which is important from everybody's perspective.

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