Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)

We do not vote in our Prime Minister by a vote of the people and, therefore, I do not see how the charge that the Greek Administration is not democratic stands up. It was a free choice. The government is an all-party coalition. The centre right parties would not agree to participate in government with Mr. Papandreou continuing as Prime Minister and the arrangement was to appoint a new Prime Minister. It was announced earlier that elections would be held in Greece in early May. I do not see what is undemocratic about that.

In the case of Italy, a similar arrangement prevails. Mr. Mario Monti was voted in as Prime Minister by the Italian Parliament. He has selected his Ministers principally from the technocratic class, and while they are not Members of Parliament, the Parliament, by a huge majority, voted in favour of and voted confidence in his Government and has implemented his programme. In addition, the Greek Parliament, by a huge majority, voted in favour of its new programme and the prior conditions attaching to it. As a result, I hope tomorrow that Greece will be in a position when the PSI is completed to avail of the €130 billion that is being provided under the new programme.

I do not understand the Sinn Féin position. Its Members weep for Greece. They weep for hungry children and families who have been bereaved because of the high suicide rate but then they will vote against the provision of the €130 billion that will allow education, social welfare and health services to continue. They weep, cry and get passionate about conditions in Greece but they purport to deprive the country of the very aid it requires. That is a ridiculous position.

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