Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have friends in strange places so I am looking forward to meeting the Greek finance Minister for the first time at the next Eurogroup meeting in Brussels. It is up to the Greek Government to bring forward proposals on how to deal with its problem. It is not up to the other partners in Europe to be the initiators. It is up to the Greek Government to ask for what it wants. When it asks for what it wants Ireland will consider it, as will every other European country and then we will react to the request. As I stated, I understand the difficulties of Greece as a nation. I am very sympathetic towards the Greek people. I read the Syriza election manifesto, which contains very interesting and illustrative points. A major political party which puts in its manifesto that it needs to give food stamps to 300,000 of its citizens is indicative of the problem in Greece. A country which has 25% unemployment but after 12 months the unemployed no longer receive social welfare payments is a country which has big difficulties. I am sympathetic towards Greece, but it is up to it to ask for what it wants and then we will see whether it can be met.

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