Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

When I spoke last Friday to three Prime Ministers directly involved - Prime Minister Monti, Prime Minister Rajoy and Prime Minister Samaras - they each gave an indication of their progress towards implementing the Council decision. This is not a decision of three Ministers or any other commentators. It is a decision made by the Heads of Government of the 27 countries of the European Union, reflecting the analysis of how to deal with the eurozone crisis. In particular, written into the statement of 29 June was the treatment to be given to Ireland. We will follow through on that statement and on that decision. That is the decision. It is clear and unequivocal; there is no resiling from that decision. Whatever opinions may be given about banking union, the Commission paper presented recently reflects clearly the decision of the European Council.

The challenge and, I suppose, the difficulty for Europe has always been to prove that one has followed through on decisions that were made. The decision of 29 June was not an opinion. It was not a theory or aspiration. It was a specific political decision made not just by Ministers but by the Heads of Government of the Union. It is set out clearly with no equivocation. I expect that decision to be implemented in full and, I hope, in the shortest possible time.

See this speech in context