Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach is meeting the other Heads of Government from his political family, the European People's Party, EPP, and the Tánaiste is likewise meeting our political family in Europe, the Party of European Socialists, PES. At that meeting, President Hollande of France among other socialist leaders will be preparing politically for the Council meeting later today. My understanding is that they will be confirming that the decision they took on 29 June will be upheld, the details relating to that decision will be fully explored, the recognition contained in the communiqué of that decision in respect of Ireland will be vindicated and confirmed and all of the necessary detail surrounding the decision's implementation will continue to make progress.

The three finance Ministers, in particular the German Minister, are facing into election periods. They made a statement on their interpretation of a particular agreement. The finance Ministers did not attend the June meeting and will not attend today's meeting. The Heads of Government will. In recent weeks, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, and the Tánaiste have visited Berlin, Paris and the capital cities of the larger countries to press Ireland's case and get recognition of the necessity of applying the deal agreed in principle at the June Council to Ireland.

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