Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It was my intention to ask a different supplementary question but the Taoiseach did not answer my question. He spoke at length about Syria and I share his concerns and agree with much of what he said but my question was not about Syria but about the recent report of EU heads of mission, the Jerusalem report. The Presidency of the EU will last six months, which will quickly pass. After that period, if the Taoiseach wants to reflect on what big thing he has done, there is nothing better than to have taken the report produced by EU heads of mission for the EU and ensured it is on the clár of the summits and discussions the Taoiseach is involved with. Dealing with the clear recommendations, which are entirely within the remit of the EU, will greatly assist in trying to bring some sense to what is happening in the Middle East. Without significant international intervention, the situation will only get worse. I am no prophet of doom; I am from the optimistic wing of politics but it is certain the situation will only get worse. The Taoiseach has visited the region and I have been there a few times, including a visit to Gaza. I always come away with a sadness because leadership is lacking. We need people from outside the bloc to come in and take lateral action. The ball is with the Taoiseach. The EU heads of mission produced a report with specific recommendations and, under the Presidency, the Taoiseach can act on it and can certainly ensure they are discussed.

One of the issues concerns 4,500 prisoners and one prisoner dead in custody. The allegation is that he was tortured and two children were also killed. I commend these issues to the Taoiseach. Does the Irish Presidency have a role in these matters? Given our history, I would like to think the Taoiseach sees it as his definitive historical role to use the Presidency to focus on peace in the Middle East and particularly the report brought forward for his attention.

Will the Taoiseach outline what has been achieved, if anything, on the issue of retrospective bank recapitalisation at this week's ECOFIN and Eurogroup meetings? In June, there was a commitment to separate banking debt from sovereign debt. The Government interpreted it as being retrospective. Some €28 billion has been put in by the former Fianna Fáil Government and this Government. Can the Taoiseach clarify the present situation? The major question is whether the Taoiseach will act on the Jerusalem report.

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