Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

This is not just a matter for the Minister for Finance. This is a matter for every person in the country. This is not an issue that is confined to any one party or to any one Minister. This is an issue for the Irish people. It is a separate matter from a European Union treaty in that Ireland does not have the power of veto. It is not a case of saying I am going to vote "No" because it will stop this process in its tracks. Once 12 countries have ratified the treaty, it can come into effect. From that perspective, it is very important that Ireland has its own insurance policy against the future by being able to ratify the treaty very strongly.

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources said he hoped it would be concluded by 31 March. The question of the promissory note and the discussions on it are entirely separate from the stability treaty. We could name 1,000 things that are all separate and were they to be dealt with tomorrow morning, the environment and the atmosphere would be very good. However, the position is that Irish people are very pragmatic about the choice they have to make here. The choice that they have to make is in respect of our country's future and the steps we have to take on the road to economic recovery.

It is not coincidental that a date has not yet been named. I came in this morning and ten different dates were thrown at me. Some of them were in the middle of the Eucharistic Congress. Others were in the middle of the European championships. There has to be a practical nature to what we are at as well.

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