It is the strong, considered view of the Government that, while these decisions, including the decision to make the payment tomorrow, are difficult, particularly so given this year's adjustment of €3.8 billion, Ireland must get to a better place and have its financial credibility restored. We have achieved that in less than a year, but much more needs to be done. The Government's primary task when entering office with a significant mandate was to do what we could to renegotiate the deal entered into by the previous Administration. We can point to significant successes in 2011, but further benefits need to accrue from the negotiations. For this reason, the Government is committed to its strategy and is firmly of the opinion that we can get the country to a better place by following this difficult course. We ask Deputies to support our counter motion.

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