Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

As I indicated, the issue will be a central feature of every Council agenda from now on. It is not the case that we have a treaty on austerity. This is a political agreement that countries and their governments will run their affairs properly and will have a programme to see that they achieve proper financial control of their affairs and get their houses in order. Every economy in the Union can grow as a consequence. Ireland is in that position. We are in a programme until the end of 2013. Last week, we had a strong signal from the National Treasury Management Agency that confidence is growing, although we have a very long way to go. Perhaps if Deputy Higgins turned his thoughts sometime to constructive suggestions instead of the kind of nonsense he goes on with, we might be far better off.

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