Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As Deputy Ross is aware, much of what has been developed in this country in terms of infrastructure over the years has been contributed to by contributor countries of the European Union funding mechanisms, including Structural Funds. The negotiations in respect of the promissory notes situation are being conducted with the European Central Bank, the Minister for Finance and the troika and they continue. We are now in a position in respect of the break between the sovereign and bank debt where the date has been set for the legal framework, the mandate has been given to the euro group and there is a recognition now at the highest level that the unique circumstances that apply in Ireland's case and the special nature of our case will be taken into account in those negotiations by the euro group.

Deputy Ross is well aware that if we took the route that he is proposing, or that of Deputy Adams, the people working in PayPal in Dundalk would not be employed there and many other indigenous global firms and others would not have been in a position to make the decisions of confidence in the country which they have displayed by putting their money where their mouth is in terms of the future and the employment of Irish people. There are many others throughout the country who could take a lesson from such confidence and not have us faced with an avalanche of unpatriotic comment, meaningless in most cases, which I witnessed over the weekend.

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