Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

That is absolutely unbelievable. The Greek Government came to power with a massive mandate from the people of Greece and all the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade has done is had a chat at a meeting with them and wished them well. Is it not the case that, in reality, the Minister has not really wished them well? Instead of giving support for and showing solidarity with people who faced the same fate as we faced, the Irish Government has acted disgracefully and, in effect, has thrown the Greek people under a bus?

In 2010, the previous Government received a letter from Mr. Jean-Claude-Trichet which was very similar to the gun that was put to the heads of the people of Greece last week. I will read one extract from the letter: "But all these considerations have implications for the assessment of the solvency of the institutions which are currently receiving ELA. It is the position of the governing council that it is only if we receive, in writing, a commitment from the Irish Government vis-à-visthe euro system on the four following points that we can authorise further provisions. The Irish Government should send a request for financial support to the Eurogroup." So it goes on. In other words: "Go into a bailout programme or we will take no notice of this Government." Does the Minister agree that that is very similar to the fate that has met the Greek people?

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