Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 22, inclusive, together.

I attended the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony in Oslo on 10 December last. While there, I availed of the opportunity to have a number of bilateral meetings, including with Prime Minister Stoltenberg of Norway and Prime Minister Thorning-Schmidt of Denmark. During these meetings, I emphasised Ireland's efforts to make legacy bank debt more sustainable and set out the priorities of the Irish Presidency. In addition, I outlined the difficulties we have faced in our economy and the sacrifices made by our people.

I also attended a lunch meeting hosted by Prime Minister Stoltenberg for the Heads of State or Government attending the Nobel ceremony, as well as Presidents Van Rompuy, Barroso and Schulz. I met Presidents Van Rompuy, Barroso and Schulz a number of times during recent months on Presidency related issues, most recently Presidents Barroso and Schulz in Dublin on Thursday last, 28 February. These meetings focused in the main issues on the current EU agenda, especially the Union's future budget. I also used these opportunities to update the Presidents on the Irish economic situation, including on our banking related debt.

Last Thursday's meeting focused on the next steps on the EU's multi-annual financial framework. We also touched upon the agenda of this month's European Council, strengthening economic and monetary union and the work of the Irish Presidency. As a courtesy, Prime Minister Cameron telephoned me before he delivered his speech in the UK and the EU on 23 January to brief me in general terms on its contents. I will meet Prime Minister Cameron in London next Monday for our annual review of British-Irish relations.

As part of my attendance at the World Economic Forum on 23 to 25 January, I took part in an interactive plenary session, entitled "The European Crisis - the way forward", with Prime Ministers Monti, Rutte and Thorning-Schmidt. As separate questions relating to my attendance at the World Economic Forum have been tabled, I will not go into the detail of this meeting in this reply.

I met Prime Minister Reinfeldt of Sweden in Dublin on Friday, 22 February. Our discussions focussed on the work of the Irish Presidency; strengthening economic and monetary union; trade; the multi-annual financial framework, youth unemployment, the Single Market and the Swedish experience of recession and return to recovery. While I have not very recently had formal bilateral meetings with President Hollande, Chancellor Merkel or Prime Ministers Katainen, Samaras, Rajoy and Borisov, I did see them and all of my European Council colleagues at the European Council in Brussels on 7 and 8 February, and will, of course, see all of them again at the European Council later this month.

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