Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I reiterate, the opportunity is always there for social partners to make contact directly with individual Ministers even though we are not returning to the former process. No more than with Vita Cortex, if there is an issue with any other company, not only is the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, interested in the resolution of all such disputes but he makes his departmental officials available to trade union workers' representatives in order to clarify any issues that might be involved. The Labour Relations Commission is the vehicle by which both parties can be brought together to bring about a resolution to these problems.

In order that the Deputy will clearly understand it, I reiterate that what was agreed in Brussels yesterday does not impact in any way upon the fact that this country is in a programme to the end of 2013. The decision yesterday reiterates the political guarantee that a country in a programme will continue to be funded beyond that programme if so required, provided it measures up to the conditions it must meet. In Ireland's case those conditions are challenging. One of the problems we face is that we are required to pay €3 billion per year over the next ten years for the Anglo Irish Bank promissory notes-----

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