Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

What is required is a period of calmness and patience. As the Deputy is aware, I have been very clear from the outset. The troika, in its analysis of Ireland meeting its conditions of the memorandum of understanding, undertook to provide a troika paper in regard to the promissory note and its consequences. Discussions have been ongoing with officials for quite some time in the troika. It is a complex and technical issue. There are quite a number of moving parts.

I have been clear to the Deputy, in respect of his questions, that there is a requirement to allow negotiations to proceed. I have never set a timeline on them. The matters under discussion are completely separate from the fiscal stability treaty in respect of which the people will be asked to vote in due course. I always take the view, as I am sure the Deputy does, that when negotiations about a matter as sensitive and complex as this are ongoing they should be allowed to run their course. For that reason I have been very careful not to raise expectations, insert time limits or stray outside the confines of what is being negotiated.

I have noted the comments made. The Deputy can take it from me that the Government has sought greater flexibility in respect of the legacy debt it and our people inherited in the negotiations. It is for that reason that the negotiations are ongoing. Deputy Martin is also aware that not only has Ireland met all its conditions but has exceeded them in a number of areas.

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