Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for presiding over some extremely difficult and complex negotiations. He has managed to preside over an agreement on the MFF, multi-annual financial framework, for the period 2014 to 2020, which did not prove possible for other countries for several months. It was an extremely difficult task. I extend my congratulations to him as it was not an easy agreement to achieve.

The focus on economic growth, education, research and innovation and the new initiative designed to attack youth unemployment are particularly welcome. Obviously, we are dealing with horrific youth unemployment in Ireland, but partners such as Spain are dealing with issues which are much worse. I wonder if we would have got a better deal on the promissory notes had the Tánaiste been there negotiating rather than some of his colleagues.

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